According to a June 13, 2025 statement from the British Royal Air Force (RAF), Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets stationed at Poland’s 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork have intercepted 15 Russian military aircraft in six days. The missions, conducted between June 7 and June 12 as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing (eAP) initiative, mark the most intense operational period since the RAF’s deployment to Poland under Operation Chessman on April 1, 2025. The surge in interceptions highlights increased Russian intelligence-gathering flights near NATO airspace.
Operation Chessman underscores the UK’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense, with RAF Typhoons from the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing conducting rapid-response missions. The advanced fourth-generation fighters, equipped with cutting-edge radar and multirole capabilities, are tasked with identifying and shadowing unauthorized aircraft near alliance borders.
On June 7, RAF Typhoons scrambled to intercept an Antonov An-30, a Soviet-era reconnaissance aircraft, before being redirected to shadow an Ilyushin Il-20M, an electronic intelligence plane. The dual engagement demonstrated the unit’s operational flexibility, with pilots adjusting flight profiles in real-time based on directives from NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre.
The following day, RAF jets intercepted two Su-24M bombers, one of which conducted a low-altitude flyby near the USNS William McLean, a U.S. Navy supply ship in international waters.
By June 9, the pattern of Russian surveillance became evident, with RAF Typhoons intercepting another An-30 and Il-20M—the same models encountered days earlier. On June 10, after refueling mid-air with a German A400M Atlas, the Typhoons intercepted an additional Il-20M, an An-30, and a Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft escorted by two Su-27 fighters—a sign of coordinated Russian reconnaissance operations.
The RAF’s presence in Poland is part of NATO’s broader strategy to deter aerial incursions along its eastern flank. With Sweden’s recent accession to the alliance, Operation Chessman now includes enhanced coordination among member states, bolstering interoperability and response capabilities.
The repeated interceptions serve as a reminder of rising tensions in the Baltic region. Polish officials reported another incident on June 13, when RAF Typhoons intercepted an Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. Warsaw described the encounter as another "provocative test" of NATO’s readiness.
Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and lies near Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, has faced multiple aerial provocations since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In February, a Russian Su-24MR briefly entered Polish airspace, an incident dismissed by Warsaw as a deliberate act despite Russian claims of a navigational error.
NATO officials continue to monitor the situation, emphasizing the alliance’s readiness to counter any threats to its airspace. The RAF’s high-tempo operations highlight both the persistent Russian challenge and NATO’s commitment to swift, decisive responses.