On Thursday 05 June 2025, two Royal Air Force Typhoons were scrambled by NATO. The pair departed from their base at the 22nd Tactical Air Base, Malbork, Poland to intercept an unknown aircraft leaving Kaliningrad air space, close to NATO airspace.
The pair of Typhoons were scramble for the second time in three days to intercept and identify an unknown aircraft close to NATO air space over the Baltic Sea. The unknown aircraft was an An-30, known by its NATO code name CLANK, the aircraft is a Soviet-era twin turboprop aerial photography aircraft. Once the aircraft was identified the pair of Typhoons then shadowed the CLANK, this is done to protect all other aircraft in the vicinity, to ensure the safety of everyone.
NATO then re-tasked the pair to intercept another aircraft flying in the same area, the second aircraft intercepted in the same sortie was a Ilyushin Il-20M. Known by its NATO code name COOT A, a Soviet-era Communication and Electronic signals Intelligence surveillance-reconnaissance aircraft. Again, once intercepted and identified the COOT A was shadowed until it was deemed no longer necessary.
Aircrew from No. II (Army Co-operation) Squadron, part of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW), are currently conducting Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) as part of NATO enhanced Air Policing (eAP) when they were scrambled.
"Today was the second time in three days that NATO have scrambled Typhoons from our base in northern Poland. NATO instructed us to scramble, intercept and identify an unknown aircraft transiting close to NATO air space. It was not communicating, SQUAWKing, nor did it file a flight plan. All aircraft must do at least two of the three in accordance with international law. Neither aircraft were complying with international law, therefore NATO can legally scramble aircraft to intercept.”
EAW spokesperson.
They added, “Once intercepted and identified we shadowed the aircraft to protect civilian air traffic in the immediate area, this is common practice as without SQUAWKing or communicating, civilian aircraft and air traffic controllers cannot be confident with the non-communicating aircraft’s movements.”
Op Chessman is the UK contingent delivering the NATO eAP mission. RAF personnel are currently deployed at Malbork Air Base and are under the command of 140 EAW. The Operation sees personnel from across the RAF deployed to Malbork alongside NATOs newest member Sweden.
