British fighter pilots deployed in Eastern Europe have just endured their busiest week of 2025, with six scrambles in six days, as Russia ramped up its aerial activity near NATO airspace.
RAF Typhoon jets operating out of Poland were launched on a near-daily basis after 15 Russian military aircraft, including bombers, reconnaissance planes and electronic warfare platforms, were detected flying close to the alliance’s borders.
It’s the sharpest spike in Russian air activity this year, and a clear test of NATO’s readiness amid rising tensions in the Baltic.
Shadowing the Russian Bear
The flurry of interceptions began last Saturday when RAF Typhoons were scrambled to monitor an Antonov An-30, a Cold War-era reconnaissance aircraft, known to NATO as ‘CLANK’, as it left the Kaliningrad Flight Information Region (FIR).
But things quickly escalated.
During the same sortie, RAF crews were re-tasked to intercept an Ilyushin Il-20M ‘COOT A’, a Soviet-designed spy plane used for electronic intelligence gathering. Both aircraft were shadowed at a safe distance until they moved away from NATO-monitored airspace.
“Today marked my first operational scramble,” said one Typhoon pilot. “Intercepting two aircraft in a single mission was a real test, but the training kicked in immediately.”
Low Passes and High Tension
By Sunday, the tempo had increased. RAF Typhoons were launched again, this time to intercept two armed Sukhoi Su-24M ‘FENCER D’ tactical bombers flying out of Kaliningrad.
In a provocative move, one of the Su-24s performed low-level passes over the USNS William McLean, a U.S. Navy logistics ship operating in the region. It was a blatant show of force, and a clear message.
The pace continued into the following days. On Monday, RAF pilots once again tracked another An-30 and Il-20M. But it was Tuesday’s sortie that pushed the limits of RAF readiness.
Fuel, Fighters and the Flankers
After intercepting another Il-20 ‘COOT A’, the British jets met up mid-air with a German Luftwaffe A400M Atlas tanker for critical in-flight refuelling, a move that allowed them to stay airborne and take on more threats.
Post-refuel, the Typhoons were re-tasked to intercept a second An-30. But the mission didn’t stop there.
Soon after, the jets were vectored towards a Tu-142 ‘BEAR F’ maritime reconnaissance aircraft, escorted by two Su-27 ‘FLANKER B’ fighters, the kind of high-stakes engagement usually reserved for Cold War thrillers.
“This was an extremely busy sortie,” said a second RAF pilot. “Intercepting three aircraft types in one mission was a first for me. The support from our German colleagues was instrumental.”
The Officer Commanding No II (AC) Squadron added, “Utilising the refuelling platform of our NATO ally has not only extended the effectiveness of our sortie, but reinforced the trust and integration that defines this alliance.”
Operation CHESSMAN Ramps Up
By Wednesday and Thursday, the pattern continued. More Su-24 bombers and a third Il-20 surveillance aircraft were intercepted, each one flying uncomfortably close to NATO airspace.
The deployments fall under Operation CHESSMAN, which places RAF Typhoons alongside Swedish forces as part of NATO’s expanded presence in the Baltic.
With Russian air activity intensifying and tensions on the eastern flank showing no sign of easing, the RAF’s operations from Malbork Air Base are expected to continue at full throttle.
