On Friday, April 24, 2026, the Armed Forces Operational Command (DO RSZ) issued a statement announcing that a Polish quick reaction alert pair of Lockheed Martin F-16 Jastrząb (Block 52+ Advanced) multirole aircraft intercepted two Russian Sukhoi Su-30 multirole aircraft (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H) over the Baltic Sea.
Russian Su-30SM / Illustrative photo: NATO AIRCOM
Airspace security remains one of the priorities of the Polish Armed Forces.
Every day, soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces maintain readiness for immediate response, ensuring effective protection of Polish skies. On April 24, 2026, a quick reaction alert pair of Air Force F-16 fighters intercepted, visually identified, and monitored two Russian Su-30 multirole combat aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
The aircraft were flying in international airspace without a filed flight plan and with their transponders switched off. Polish airspace was not violated.
Intercepts of this kind are a standard element of the airspace security system. Their purpose is to identify and monitor aircraft that do not comply with international aviation procedures. These actions allow the situation to be assessed on an ongoing basis and help maintain airspace security.
Thanks to their high level of training and operational readiness, soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces remain prepared to act immediately in any situation.
Armed Forces Operational Command
The incident was also reported by Deputy Minister of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk.
Polish F-16s intercepted two Russian Su-30s over the Baltic Sea. Any violation of the security of Poland and the region will be met with an immediate NATO response.
Earlier, on April 8 and again on April 9 of this year, a Polish F-16 quick reaction alert pair intercepted, visually identified, and escorted a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M imagery and electronic reconnaissance aircraft (NATO reporting name: Coot-A). The same aircraft was intercepted on March 16 of this year by a pair of Polish MiG-29s.
Su-30
Su-30SM multirole aircraft and the newer Su-30SM2 are stationed at the Russian air base in Chernyakhovsk, as part of the Baltic Fleet’s 4th Guards Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment. The first aircraft were delivered there in 2016, with further deliveries in 2017 and later. In 2022, Russia planned to deploy an additional Su-30SM2 squadron in the region to strengthen the air defense of the exclave.
The modernization of the Su-30SM to the Su-30SM2 standard included replacing the Salyut AL-31FP engines, with 123 kN of thrust, with more powerful Saturn/Lyulka AL-41F-1S (117S) thrust-vectoring engines, derived from the Su-35S and producing 142 kN of thrust. They provide around 16 percent more thrust with lower fuel consumption and an increased service life.
The Su-30SM2 also receives improved avionics, including a modernized or new active electronically scanned array (AESA; Russian: AFAR) radar, expanded weapons-carrying capabilities, a new electronic warfare system, and the OSNOD radio navigation and communications system with a new tactical data exchange link compatible with Su-57 multirole aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems. The upgrade is intended to allow the aircraft to remain in service beyond 2040.
Bezpieczeństwo przestrzeni powietrznej pozostaje jednym z priorytetów #WojskoPolskie 🇵🇱.
Każdego dnia żołnierze Sił Zbrojnych RP utrzymują gotowość do natychmiastowej reakcji, zapewniając skuteczną ochronę polskiego nieba.
24 kwietnia 2026 r. para dyżurna myśliwców F-16 🇵🇱 Sił… pic.twitter.com/YdiHQniKfu
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) April 24, 2026
Polskie F-16 przechwyciły dwa rosyjskie Su-30 nad Bałtykiem.
Każde naruszenie bezpieczeństwa Polski i regionu spotka się z natychmiastową reakcją NATO.— Cezary Tomczyk (@CTomczyk) April 24, 2026
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