Leuchars jets scrambled to intercept Russian bombers

RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Leuchars Station in Fife to intercept two Russian bombers as they approached the UK.

The Fife flyers intervened after the two Russian Tu160 Blackjacks were detected by Na t o air de fence radars on Wednesday.

A decision was made to call upon Quick Reaction Alert fighters from the Royal Norwegian Air Force in the first instance.

The pilots visually identified the Russian aircraft and shadowed them as they continued south.

As the Russian Blackjacks approached the UK ’s airspace, a Voyager MultiRole Tanker Transport was launched from RAF Brize Norton and the RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoons were scrambled from their temporary home at Leu chars Station to intercept the two planes.

The Typhoons have been based at the former RAF Leuchars since the end of July while resurfacing work is carried out on two runway sat RAF Lossiemouth.

They were called out three times in the space of six days last month to intercept Russian fighters over the North Sea.

One of the Royal Air Force Typhoon pilots involved in the mission said: “The Control and Reporting Centre at RAF Scampton routed us directly to the Tu -160 Blackjacks so that we could take over the mission from our Norwegian allies.

“Air- to- air refuelling from an RAF Voyager ensured we were able to stay on task until the two Blackjacks departed from the UK’s area of interest.”

The Blackjack bombers returned north where they were handed back over to the Norwegian Luftforsvaret Q F-16s, with the live-armed Typhoons returning to their permanent home of RAF Lossiemouth.

VITAL WORK: Typhoons have been called out regularly to intercept Russian aircraft.