Russian jets intercepted heading to UK airspace
Six RAF fighter jets were scrambled on Saturday after Russian aircraft were spotted heading towards British airspace.
The Typhoons, supported by an air-to-air refuelling aircraft, took to the skies as the unidentified planes were tracked heading towards the north-west coast of Scotland.
The six Typhoons from the air force’s Quick Reaction Alert programme were deployed in pairs. Two of them were dispatched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray in north-east Scotland, while the third pair flew from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
Cockpit footage from one of our #QRA Typhoons, showing one of the Russian aircraft #TeamLossie intercepted yesterday.
It truly was a team effort, both within the @RoyalAirForce and as part of @NATO.
Find out more ▶️ https://t.co/HDou9Ziq1F pic.twitter.com/FPe20PJo1F
— RAF Lossiemouth (@RAFLossiemouth) March 8, 2020
The Ministry of Defence said that two pairs approached the aircraft before withdrawing, while the third pair finished the job of forcing them to change course.
The Russian aircraft were later revealed to be Tupolev Tu-95 Bears, which are used both as strategic bombers and long-range maritime patrol planes.
Read more via The Guardian
