On September 21, 2025, Swedish JAS-39 Gripens and German Eurofighter Typhoons intercepted a Russian IL-20M reconnaissance aircraft flying without a flight plan over the South Baltic Sea. The jets visually identified and shadowed the slow-moving intelligence platform as part of NATO’s standing Baltic Air Policing mission.
The IL-20M, a turboprop SIGINT platform derived from the IL-18 airliner, is unarmed but fitted with side-looking radars, antenna arrays, and observation blisters that allow it to collect radar and communications data for hours. Its lack of transponder signals and radio response in a busy air corridor triggered the intercept for safety and documentation.
Gripens scrambled from dispersed bases, using their PS-05/A radar and quick-launch procedures to intercept and hold formation for visual ID. Germany’s two-ship Typhoon section likely made the first contact before handing off to Sweden’s QRA jets.
These intercepts are not intended to drive Russian aircraft away but to monitor behavior, collect data, and ensure civil aviation safety. Each mission adds to NATO’s running picture of Russian military activity and signals that allied forces remain alert and coordinated. Sweden’s NATO membership has further strengthened coverage in the region, ensuring that air policing missions are executed swiftly and professionally, reducing risks of miscalculation.
