On June 5, 2025, two Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets belonging to the British Royal Air Force (RAF) took off from Malbork Air Base in Poland and were tasked with intercepting two Russian reconnaissance aircraft that had left Kaliningrad airspace. The Typhoons, stationed in Malbork in support of NATO's Enhanced Air Policing mission, stand out with their rapid response capabilities to airspace violations.
Russian Aircraft and Mission Profiles
According to the report by Army Recognition, RAF pilots first flew under the NATO code name An Antonov An-30 reconnaissance aircraft known as “CLANK” detected. The twin-engine turboprop An-30 from the Soviet era is a platform specially developed for high-resolution aerial photography and mapping missions. The aircraft, which departed from Kaliningrad and approached the NATO surveillance zone, was escorted from a safe distance by Typhoons after visual identification and was monitored. The An-30 was developed based on the An-24 transport aircraft, stands out with its glass-paned nose structure at the front, and is still actively used in the Russian Air Force inventory.
During the mission, the Typhoons were diverted to intercept a second aircraft, codenamed NATO Ilyushin Il-20M known as “COOT-A” It was detected. This aircraft is known as an electronic spy plane equipped with advanced signals intelligence (SIGINT) equipment. Used to detect radar and communication signals, the Il-20M is preferred for gathering intelligence, especially in areas close to NATO borders. The Il-20M is derived from the Il-18 passenger aircraft and is equipped with the SRS-4 Romb reconnaissance system, A-87P panoramic cameras and various antennas.
Increased Espionage Activity from Kaliningrad
This dual interception took place at a time when reconnaissance flights from Russia's Kaliningrad region have increased. On April 18, 2025, Eurofighter Typhoons intervened in similar flights for three consecutive days. In those days, Il-20M and Su-30SM aircraft were also intercepted in the Baltic region. According to experts, this increase is aimed at testing NATO's defensive reflexes on its eastern border and gathering information about the alliance's radar and command infrastructure.
