RAF fighters scrambled to intercept Russian jets

RAF fighters were scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers which passed near Shetland yesterday.

The Tupolev TU-160 Blackjack bombers were in the UK’s ‘area of interest’ but did not enter British territorial airspace, the RAF said.

Typhoon jets from Lossiemouth, Moray, and Coningsby, Lincolnshire, were scrambled to keep watch on the bombers in the latest sign of Russian military activity close to the UK.

It is the latest of several incidents involving Russian jets in recent months.

An RAF spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby scrambled to monitor two Blackjack bombers while they were in the UK area of interest.

‘At no point did the Russian

In UK’s ‘area of interest’

aircraft enter UK territorial airspace.’

The nuclear-capable Blackjacks, the largest bomber aircraft in the world, were monitored coming from the North-east and passed to the west of Ireland.

The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager tanker from RAF Brize Norton.

The RAF and Royal Navy have been frequently called on to monitor Russian planes and ships.

Last month, Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans was deployed to ‘man mark’ the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and its battle group as the vessels sailed close to UK territorial waters returning from operations supporting the offensive in Syria.

The Kuznetsov group had previously passed through the Channel last autumn on its way to the Mediterranean and was escorted by Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond.