- WIADOMOŚCI
Russian reconnaissance plane intercepted by Polish F-16s
Photo. NATO
Polish F-16 aircraft have successfully intercepted a Russian Il-20 electronic reconnaissance aircraft.
Forty kilometres north of Kołobrzeg, a Polish Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) pair of F-16 jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft. As stated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Russian aircraft was flying in international airspace without a flight plan and with its transponder turned off. In this instance, no violation of Polish airspace occurred.
❗Kolejne skuteczne przechwycenie rosyjskiego samolotu nad Morzem Bałtyckim❗️
— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) July 31, 2026
Przed południem para dyżurna naszych F-16, 40 kilometrów na północ od Kołobrzegu przechwyciła rosyjski samolot rozpoznawczy Ił-20. Po raz kolejny maszyna wykonywała lot w międzynarodowej przestrzeni… pic.twitter.com/aQH0Pwj3nf
The Russian Il-20 has been one of the most frequently intercepted reconnaissance aircraft in recent times. Defence24 has reported on such interceptions over the Baltic Sea on numerous occasions, involving both Polish F-16s and MiG-29s.
This is yet another interception of Russian aircraft in recent weeks. Also in July, Polish fighters were scrambled to intercept Russian Su-30SM2 fighters from Kaliningrad. On 14 July, a QRA pair was scrambled to intercept the aforementioned Il-20M.
