Early Friday, the Polish military detected a Russian reconnaissance plane that had not turned on its transponders as it flew over the Baltic Sea. Transponders allow other aircraft to see its location.
Polish fighter jets were therefore sent up to intercept it. The plane did not violate Polish airspace, according to the Ministry of Defense.
A similar situation unfolded on Thursday, and another similar incident occurred on Tuesday, according to Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. Even then, Russian reconnaissance aircraft were in international airspace over the Baltic Sea without a flight plan and with their transponders turned off.
NATO's eastern flank has been on high alert for possible air violations since September, when three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace for twelve minutes. Shortly before that, more than 20 Russian drones violated Polish airspace.
