Polish fighter jets intercept Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 aircraft that was conducting a reconnaissance operation in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. Reuters reports.
“Polish fighter jets intercepted an Il-20 aircraft that was conducting a reconnaissance mission in international airspace, without a filed flight plan and with its transponder turned off. The plane did not violate Polish airspace, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command said.
The spokesman for the Polish Army Operational Command, Jacek Horyszewski, stressed after the incident that Poland is closely monitoring that its airspace is not violated.
NATO’s eastern flank countries have been on high alert since September, after three Russian military aircraft violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes. The incident occurred just a few days after more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace.
The Il-20 is a Soviet electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft, created on the basis of the Il-18. It is equipped with side-scan radars, an infrared scanner, and a number of other sensors.
The Il-20 was also the first Soviet aircraft designed for the integrated use of various aerial reconnaissance capabilities. Its production lasted from 1968 to 1976, and it is currently in service with the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation.
