The German Air Force observed a Russian IL-20M aircraft over the Baltic Sea

A Russian IL-20M military aircraft was spotted over the Baltic Sea last weekend, prompting the German Air Force to dispatch two Eurofighter Typhoons to track and identify it, as reported by the Bild agency and confirmed by a German Air Force spokesperson.

The Russian IL-20M aircraft is designed for reconnaissance and electronic espionage missions and can collect signals and electronic data.

It was developed in the 1960s based on the Il-18 civilian transport aircraft and has been modernized several times since then. These aircraft often operate in areas close to NATO borders, such as the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, frequently without transponders switched on or without authorization, which is one of the reasons for the tense security situation.

(reuters, sie)