NATO fighter jets intercept a Russian spy plane

Swedish fourth-generation Jas 39 Gripen fighters have intercepted the Russian Il-20 electronic reconnaissance aircraft.

This is reported in a statement of the Swedish Armed Forces in the social network X.

Two Jas 39 Gripen completed the first combat mission under NATO’s Enhanced Incident Response program.

The fighters took off from a base in Poland and visually identified a Russian spy plane.

Två svenska Jas 39 Gripen har genomfört det första skarpa uppdraget inom ramen för @NATO förstärkta incidentberedskap. Stridsflygen lyfte från basen i Polen och gjorde en visuell identifiering av ett ryskt signalspaningsflygplan av typen IL-20 Coot.#WeAreNATO#AirPolicing https://t.co/o6ZDdHaGb7

— Försvarsmakten (@Forsvarsmakten) April 24, 2025

The North Atlantic Alliance Air Command said the mission was part of NATO’s enhanced airspace patrol program:

“Swedish aircraft are currently deployed to Malbork alongside the. RAF demonstrating seamless integration, safeguarding the integrity of Allied territory 24/7/365.”

Russian aircraft are known to regularly violate NATO countries’ airspace.

In response, the Alliance has stepped up air patrols in the Baltic Sea region and Eastern Europe.

Earlier, a Russian Su-35 nearly crashed into a U.S. F-16 while intercepting intruder aircraft near Alaska.