RAF Typhoon jets intercept two Russian aircrafts off Scottish coast
The Ministry of Defence said the RAF Typhoons were scrambled after the Russian aircraft breached the UK’s 'controlled zone of international airspace.'
UK fighter jets were deployed to intercept two Russian aircraft that had entered a ‘controlled zone’ near the Scottish coast.
The Ministry of Defence said the RAF Typhoons were scrambled after the Russian aircraft breached the UK’s ‘controlled zone of international airspace.’
The Russian planes were identified as TU-142 Bear F maritime reconnaissance and an anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
An MoD spokesman said that the zone is monitored to ‘ensure the safe passage for all other aircraft, including civilian transatlantic airliners that are under UK civilian air traffic control.’
The Quick Reaction Alert Typhoons are currently based at former RAF Leuchars in Fife, having temporarily moved from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray last month.
They’ve been moved away while the runway is revamped at Lossiemouth. Construction work is said to be going on ‘around the clock’ to ensure the jets can return as soon as possible.
In July, a Voyager plane, which was recently rebranded with the Union Jack by Boris Johnson, was sent out along with a team of Typhoons to warn off Russian planes.
Several long-range Russian ‘Blackjack’ bombers, which are used as spy planes, were seen approaching UK airspace.
On that occasion, the Ministry of Defence said no interception was necessary and the plane made a return to its base at RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire.
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