Russian Il-20 Aircraft Intercepted in Swedish Airspace by Swedish and German Forces
9 April, 2024 German Eurofighter fighters escort the Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft in the airspace of Sweden. April 2024. Photo credits: Swedish Air Force
Swedish and German military forces intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft in Swedish airspace. The Swedish Air Force said that the violator was a Russian Il-20 aircraft. An Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flew into Swedish airspace southeast of the Blekinge area.
To intercept the plane, two German Eurofighters were raised; they were on standby at a base near the German city of Laage. While a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft was flying in the airspace, and a NATO plane accompanied it for some time.
A Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft in Swedish airspace. April 2024.
Photo credits: Swedish Air Force
Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft were developed in the Soviet Union based on the Il-18 passenger aircraft by integrating a radio reconnaissance station and a radar surveillance station under the fuselage. It is known that, since the 1970s, only 20 such boards have been manufactured. Only a few of them have been modernized and are still in operation.
According to NATO, the Alliance's air forces across Europe are often scramble to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching the Alliance's airspace. Most of the interceptions took place over the Baltic Sea.
Interception site of the Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft
NATO stated previously that it has strengthened its air defense on the eastern flank in response to Russia's war against Ukraine, increasing the number of fighter jets and reconnaissance flights, as well as expanding its network of ground-based air defenses. Russian military aircraft have not been transmitting their transponder code indicating their position and altitude for a long time, nor have they submitted a flight plan or communicated with air traffic controllers, NATO says.
An Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft.
Photo credits: Russian Ministry of Defense
"NATO fighter jets are on round-the-clock alert and ready to take off in the event of suspicious or unannounced flights near our allies' airspace," stated NATO representatives.