Polish Air Force MiG-29 fighters intercepted and escorted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on March 13, 2026, after the aircraft was detected flying in international airspace without a filed flight plan and with its transponder switched off, according to Poland’s Operational Command of the Armed Forces.
In a statement posted on March 16, 2026, the Polish command said the quick reaction alert (QRA) pair carried out a visual identification of the aircraft and escorted it out of their area of responsibility. The Russian aircraft, identified as an Ilyushin Il-20, did not violate Polish airspace, the military added.
According to the Polish military, the Il-20 was conducting its ninth reconnaissance mission of 2026 in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The command said the interception was completed “quickly, professionally and safely”.
The incident is the latest sign of continued Russian military aviation activity near NATO airspace in the Baltic region. While such flights often remain outside national airspace, aircraft operating without transponders and flight plans typically trigger interception procedures by allied fighters tasked with monitoring the alliance’s northeastern flank.
The Il-20, known by NATO as the Coot-A, is a Soviet-designed intelligence-gathering aircraft derived from the Il-18 airliner and used for signals and electronic reconnaissance missions. Its regular appearances over the Baltic Sea have made it a familiar target for NATO quick reaction alert sorties launched by regional air forces.
The Soviet-designed MiG-29 has long served as one of Poland’s legacy air defense aircraft. Although Warsaw is steadily replacing the type with newer fighters, the jet remains in service in a shrinking QRA role, particularly for air policing and interception missions.
As the type is gradually withdrawn, those duties are set to pass to Poland’s F-16s and FA-50s. Some Polish MiG-29s have also been transferred to Ukraine. In December 2025, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Warsaw was discussing further transfers with Kyiv, while also seeking reciprocal technology cooperation, particularly in drones.
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