RAF jets scramble to head off Russian patrol

RAF fighter jets intercepted a Russian aircraft heading towards Nato airspace in the second such incident in a week.

Typhoons were scrambled on Thursday from the Romanian Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base as a Russian Be-12, a maritime patrol aircraft, was spotted heading south-west across the Black Sea from Crimea.

It is the second time in a week that the RAF has launched jets to deter Russian aircraft, and the fifth time since the end of April, when the air force took the helm of Nato’s Air Policing mission.

The RAF is currently taking a leading role in Air Policing over the Black Sea, with about 150 British personnel stationed at

Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Constanta, Romania.

British forces are stationed at the base at the request of the Romanian Government and have been at the site since April 17.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the UK’S commitment to Nato and European security is “unwavering”.