As reported today by the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command (DO RSZ) on social media, on Monday, August 12, 2024, a pair of Polish F-16 Jastrząb multirole fighter jets intercepted and identified a Russian Il-20M surveillance-reconnaissance aircraft.
Photo: DO RSZ
“Airspace security is one of the priorities of the Polish Armed Forces. Every day, the pilots of the Polish Armed Forces stand ready to ensure the protection of Poland’s skies.”
“On August 12, 2024, a pair of F-16s on duty intercepted and visually identified a Russian Federation aircraft that was flying over the Baltic Sea.”
“Polish fighter jets intercepted an Il-20 aircraft conducting a reconnaissance mission in international airspace, without violating Polish territorial waters.”
“Protecting Polish airspace is a cornerstone of our country’s security. Thanks to the efficient functioning of the entire air defense system, we can be confident that we are protected from aerial threats.”
Armed Forces Operational Command
This is the latest incident of this kind in the past three months. On May 3 and 6 of this year, pairs of Polish MiG-29 and F-16 jets on duty twice intercepted the same Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
According to the attached photograph, the intercepted aircraft is an Il-20M with the registration number RF-93611. An aircraft of this type was intercepted over the Baltic Sea on February 13, 2023, by Dutch F-35A Lightning II jets stationed at the 22nd Air Base in Malbork, as well as on December 8, 2021, and May 15, 2017, by Polish F-16C jets stationed at the 1st Air Base in Šiauliai—all in support of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission.
The same Il-20M (RF-93611) was intercepted on November 28, 2022, by a pair of German Eurofighter Typhoons stationed at the Ämari Air Base in Estonia, and again on January 27, 2023, but this time the duty pair took off from the Rostock-Laage Air Base in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where the 73rd Tactical Air Wing Steinhoff (Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 73, TLG 73) is stationed.
On September 17, 2018, another Russian Il-20M was mistakenly shot down with a 15-person crew on board by Syrian air defense during an Israeli missile strike on targets in Syria.
On April 13, 2014, a Russian Il-20M approached Turkish airspace in the Black Sea region and was intercepted by four F-16s, and on October 22, 2014, one of these aircraft violated Estonian airspace.
The Il-20M (NATO reporting name: Coot-A) is a specialized version of the Il-18 aircraft (also known by the alternative designation Il-18D-36 Bizon), designed for conducting imagery intelligence, communications intelligence (COMINT), and electronic intelligence (ELINT), which involves intercepting electromagnetic signal emissions. It is equipped with a wide range of optoelectronic sensors, including the A-87P LOROP, Romb 4, and Vishnaya systems, as well as an Igla-1 side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) with a phased array antenna and satellite communication systems for real-time data transfer. The prototype Il-20M made its first flight in March 1968. A total of 20 units were produced, of which 14 remain in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS).
Bezpieczeństwo przestrzeni powietrznej to jeden z priorytetów #WojskoPolskie. Każdego dnia piloci Sił Zbrojnych RP czuwają i są w gotowości, aby zapewnić ochronę polskiego nieba.
12 sierpnia 2024 roku para dyżurna F-16 🇵🇱 dokonała przechwycenia oraz identyfikacji wizualnej… pic.twitter.com/UPsrzKpXt7
— Dowództwo Operacyjne (@DowOperSZ) August 13, 2024