NATO fighter scrambles to intercept Russian aircraft jump 250% in July

Command officials noted that Russian military aircraft repeatedly approached NATO airspace without submitting flight plans and with their transponders turned off.

In response, Allied fighters were scrambled to intercept, escort, and identify the Russian aircraft.

NATO ties the increased scramble frequency with intensified Russian aviation activity near Alliance borders and highlights the necessity of maintaining heightened air defense readiness.

On Aug. 4, Polish Defense Ministry reported that Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft 56 kilometers off the city of Koszalin in West Pomeranian Voivodeship.

A day earlier, Polish military reported another interception of a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, noting that the vessel was flying with its transponder switched off.