NATO Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Bomber

Video has emerged showing NATO fighter jets 'buzzing' a Russian Tu-95 bomber.

The footage shows three RAF Typhoons and at least one French Mirage fighter flying within yards of the Russian plane and broadcast on Russian television channel TV Zvedza, which is owned by the Russian Defence Ministry.

The time and location of the incident has not been disclosed.

However, based upon the squadron insignia seen on the aircraft, it is believed the video was shot during a close encounter on 28 January when two Russian military planes flew close to UK airspace.

Sky's Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said: "Events of this kind have tripled in recent months but what it shows is one of these events happening from the other side.

"Once we work out when the last time the French and British worked together on one of these we might be able to date exactly when this happened.

"If the Russian bombers were flying from British air space into French air space, or the other way around, they would hand over to each other.

"It is quite fascinating seeing this from the other angle. You can see how close they get to each other and what the British and French would essentially be doing is trying to speak to the Russians and make sure they do not stray into sovereign airspace."

The Ministry of Defence have confirmed the video shows RAF Typhoons from 1 Squadron, 6 Squadron and 11 Squadron.

The increase in close encounters between Russian military planes and RAF fighters comes amid increased tension between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine.

The video was released as it was revealed RAF jets intercepted a Russian Tu-95 bomber off the coast of Cornwall on Wednesday evening, and two weeks after British jets were scrambled to see off a similar Russian plane which flew down the English Channel.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "It is the first time since the height of the Cold War that has happened and it just shows you the need to respond each time he does something like that."

Speaking earlier about the crisis in Ukraine , Mr Fallon said there was a "real and present danger" Russia could repeat its covert campaigns in the Crimea and Ukraine to destabilise former Soviet bloc countries.

He added NATO must be ready for Russian aggression against alliance members including Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

David Cameron said: "When this happens, what we do, we launch our Typhoon aircraft escorting these planes out of the area of UK interest. At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into UK military airspace.

"This illustrates we have the fast jets, the pilots and the systems in place to protect the United Kingdom.

"The Russians are trying to make a point and we should not dignify it with a response."