Within a single 24-hour window from 8-9 June 2023 Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighters deployed for NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) operation were scrambled twice to intercept several Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported on 9 June.
On the evening of 8 June RAF Typhoons based at Amari airbase in Estonia, in concert with Swedish Air Force Gripen fighters, were scrambled to intercept a Russian Air Force Il-20 ‘Coot-A’ surveillance aircraft and Su-27 ‘Flanker-B’ fighter flying close to NATO and Swedish airspace, according to the MoD. “The Russian aircraft were not complying with international norms by failing to communicate with the relevant Flight Information Regions (FIRs). However, they remained in international airspace and flew in a professional manner,” the MoD stated.
The Il-20 is an intelligence-gathering platform carrying electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT) equipment as well as an Igla-1 side-looking airborne radar.
Then, on the morning of 9 June RAF Typhoons were again scrambled to intercept two military transport aircraft – an An-12 ‘Cub’ and an An-72 ‘Coaler’ – flying south from mainland Russia towards the Kaliningrad Oblast, the MoD stated. The RAF fighters were later re-tasked to intercept two Tupolev Tu-22M ‘Backfire’ bombers and two Su-30SM ‘Flanker-H’ fighters, also flying south from mainland Russia over the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. “The Russian aircraft were once again not complying with international norms by failing to liaise appropriately with local FIRs,” the MoD said.
Highlighting the co-ordinated international response to the non-complying Russian flights, the MoD added, “The Typhoons were joined by F-18s of the Finnish Air Force as they escorted the ‘Backfires’ and ‘Flankers’ through the Gulf of Finland, later handing over to Gripens of the Swedish Air Force. Portuguese and Romanian F-16s, based out of Siauliai Airbase in Lithuania, were also scrambled to escort the Russian aircraft as they transited further south through the Latvian and Lithuanian FIRs.”
The MoD noted that, as NATO is currently conducting naval activity in the Baltic Sea as part of the alliance’s annual Exercise ‘Baltops 23’, which began on 4 June, Russian surveillance activities were to be expected.
The RAF’s 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (140 EAW) with 1 (F) Squadron Typhoons is currently deployed to Amari Airbase in Estonia to undertake the NATO BAP mission. It will remain there until August, when it will hand over its BAP responsibilities to the Spanish Air Force.
Wing Commander Scott Maccoll, Commanding Officer of 140 EAW, was quoted by the MoD as saying, “This is a busy period, yet these intercepts remain routine business for us. Our ability to scramble and intercept multiple Russian jets on separate occasions, within a short period of time, is testament to our resilience and flexibility.
“140 EAW, NATO and our future ally, Sweden, have further showcased their ability to perform multinational intercepts in a professional and seamless manner,” Wg Cdr Maccoll added. “Our commitment to defend the region and secure the skies over the Baltics remains steadfast and we will act with speed and decisiveness to counter any potential adversary.”
Peter Felstead
