Royal Air Force Typhoons deployed to Poland under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission have scrambled six times in as many days, intercepting a total of 15 Russian aircraft operating near NATO airspace.
According to a Royal Air Force news update, since 1 April 2025, Typhoon FGR4 aircraft have been based at the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork as part of Operation CHESSMAN, the UK’s current deployment to NATO’s air policing mission. Over the past week, this contingent has faced its busiest operational tempo yet.
The week of interceptions began on Saturday 7 June, when Typhoons were scrambled to identify an aircraft departing the Kaliningrad Flight Information Region. It was identified as an Antonov An-30, a Cold War-era aerial reconnaissance platform known by NATO as ‘CLANK’. The RAF jets shadowed the aircraft to ensure regional airspace safety, a standard NATO practice during such events.
Later in the same sortie, the Typhoons were re-tasked to intercept an Ilyushin Il-20M ‘COOT A’, a signals intelligence aircraft. Both Russian aircraft were escorted away from NATO-monitored areas.
“Today marked my first operational scramble, and while the adrenaline was high, training took over the moment we launched,” said one of the deployed pilots in the update. “Intercepting two aircraft in one mission was intense and gave me a new level of respect for the demands of QRA.”
On Sunday 8 June, two Su-24M ‘FENCER D’ aircraft were intercepted. These supersonic, all-weather tactical bombers were also departing Kaliningrad FIR. Notably, one of them proceeded to conduct low passes over the USNS William McLean, a U.S. Navy logistics vessel operating in the region.
Monday 9 June saw the RAF intercept another Il-20M and An-30, while Tuesday 10 June featured the most complex sortie of the week. That mission involved intercepting three different aircraft types: an Il-20M, an An-30, and a Tu-142 ‘BEAR F’ maritime reconnaissance aircraft escorted by a pair of Su-27 ‘FLANKER B’ fighters.
The Typhoons extended their sortie with aerial refuelling from a German Luftwaffe A400M Atlas tanker, showcasing NATO’s operational flexibility.
“Intercepting a third aircraft in one mission is a first for me,” another pilot commented. “The support of our German colleagues made that possible.”
The Officer Commanding No II (Army Cooperation) Squadron added, “Utilising the AAR platform of our NATO ally has not only extended the effectiveness of our sortie, but also reinforced the strength and trust that defines our alliance.”
Scrambles continued on Wednesday and Thursday, with Typhoons intercepting additional An-30 and Su-24 aircraft, and once again shadowing an Il-20.
Operation CHESSMAN sees UK personnel deployed to Malbork under the command of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing. You can read more from the RAF on this here.
I think it’s time Ukraine started intercepting these Russian aircraft using a British airbase under a ‘special operations’ remit.
That’ll wake them up.
Standard RF provocation to test operational readiness, though Kaliningrad is lightly manned while RF forces are failing in Ukraine.
Independence protests become more likely as the locals are increasingly ignored by the crimlin who only want to threaten the Baltic states. However their military priorities are clear so as troops are sent elsewhere, civil disobedience becomes less constrained.
Will be interesting to see how the next European sanctions package affects the maritime traffic as European NATO countries Coastguards enforce IMO and Insurance standards against the terrorist state shadow fleet.
No hydrocarbon revenue means economic collapse.