NATO Scrambles Fighter Jets To Intercept Russia Spy Planes

Germany scrambled its fighter jets to intercept a Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea, it has been reported, in the latest incident involving Moscow’s forces over the body of water dubbed a “NATO Lake.”

The German newspaper Bild reported that a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M reconnaissance plane flew over the area with its transponder switched off and without a flight plan filed before the German Air Force scrambled its aircraft.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry and the German Air Force for comment.

Why It Matters

NATO members have reported in the region a spike in incidents of Russian belligerence of which Friday’s is the latest. Since the accession of Sweden and Finland to the alliance, the Baltic Sea is called a “NATO Lake” and given the location within it, of the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, an area of strategic military significance as tensions with Moscow continue to increase.

What To Know

Bild reported that the Russian Il-20M took off from Kaliningrad with its transponder switched off and without a flight plan filed around 9 a.m. Friday.

It was heading towards international airspace near Poland and Germany but was detected by NATO radar which alerted Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, which scrambled two Eurofighter jets from Laage Air Base near Rostock.

The Eurofighter jets established visual contact with the Russian plane about 60 miles from the German coast before changing course north 25 miles from the island of Usedom, thus remaining in international airspace.

The German Eurofighters returned to base just after 11 a.m. in an incident that comes only weeks after British fighter jets based in Poland intercepted two Russian reconnaissance aircraft.

Also this month, fighter jets from Lithuania conducting NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltic region were scrambled three times within a week to identify and escort Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM aircraft violating flight regulations.

In May, NATO jets were scrambled four times to identify and escort Russian aircraft violating flight rules in the Baltic and it was reported that Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the region.

What People Are Saying

German newspaper Bild, according to a translation, said the Russian Ilyushin plane “was detected by NATO radar systems and flew without radio contact from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, coming directly towards international airspace near Poland and Germany.”

What Happens Next

Russia is likely to continue with hybrid activities in Europe, and in the Baltic region, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) which analyzes conflict trends.

In a report given to Newsweek this month, ACLED that suspected Russian destabilization activities are increasing again across Europe following a lull at the start of 2025. These include arson and foiled sabotage plots, “in addition to increased tensions in the Baltic Sea.”