On Monday, March 16, 2026, the Armed Forces Operational Command (DO RSZ) announced on social media that a pair of Polish MiG-29 fighter aircraft on quick reaction alert had intercepted, visually identified, and escorted a Russian Il-20M imagery and electronic reconnaissance aircraft.
Photo: DO RSZ
On Friday, March 13, 2026, a pair of MiG-29 fighters on quick reaction alert from the Polish Air Force successfully intercepted, visually identified, and escorted out of the area of responsibility an aircraft of the Russian Federation that was flying over the Baltic Sea.
The Polish fighters intercepted a Russian Il-20 conducting its ninth reconnaissance mission of the year in international airspace, without a filed flight plan and with its transponder switched off. The aircraft did not violate Polish airspace.
Thanks to the high readiness of the alert forces, the pilots’ experience, and the efficient operation of the air defense system, the mission was carried out quickly, professionally, and safely.
Soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces watch over the security of Polish skies every day, carrying out their service with full commitment, and the Polish Armed Forces remain in constant readiness to respond to any threats to our airspace.
Dowództwo Operacyjne Rodzajów Sił Zbrojnych
Previous interceptions of a Russian Il-20M took place on three occasions, on October 29, 30, and 31, 2025. That aircraft was the example bearing registration number RF-95671.
In the latest incident, according to the photograph published by the Armed Forces Operational Command, Polish pilots intercepted the aircraft bearing registration number RF-93611, which had already attracted the interest of the Air Force in 2024, when it was intercepted by an F-16 Jastrząb on August 12, and by MiG-29s and F-16s on March 3 and 6.
The Il-20M (NATO reporting name: Coot-A) is a specialized version of the Il-18 aircraft, which is why its alternative designation is Il-18D-36 Bizon, intended for imagery reconnaissance, communications intelligence (COMINT), and electronic intelligence (ELINT), that is, the interception of electromagnetic signal emissions. It is equipped with a broad suite of A-87P LOROP, Romb 4, and Vishnya optoelectronic sensors, as well as an Igla-1 phased-array side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) and satellite communications systems for real-time information transfer. The Il-20M prototype made its maiden flight in March 1968. Twenty aircraft were produced, of which 14 remain in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS).
On September 17, 2018, another Russian Il-20M was mistakenly shot down with its 15-member crew on board by Syrian air defense during an Israeli missile strike on targets in Syria. In turn, on April 13, 2014, a Russian Il-20M approached Turkish airspace over the Black Sea and was intercepted by four F-16s, while on October 22, 2014, one of these aircraft violated Estonian airspace.
W piątek, 13 marca 2026 roku para dyżurna myśliwców MiG-29 ✈️ Sił Powietrznych 🇵🇱 dokonała skutecznego przechwycenia, identyfikacji wizualnej oraz eskortowania z rejonu odpowiedzialności samolotu Federacji Rosyjskiej, który wykonywał lot nad Morzem Bałtyckim.
Polskie myśliwce… pic.twitter.com/c0pSS7bctr
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) March 16, 2026