RAF Sends Jets To Intercept Russian Bombers

Britain scrambled Typhoons to intercept two Russian bombers near UK airspace, it has been revealed.

The Ministry of Defence said the fighter jets took off from RAF Lossiemouth on Thursday night.

The Russian planes did not enter UK airspace but strayed near enough to the edge of international airspace to be in what is known as a "British area of interest".

"RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft were launched overnight from RAF Lossiemouth on a NATO air policing mission after unidentified aircraft were detected flying over the Atlantic in International Airspace," an RAF spokesperson said.

"The aircraft were identified as Russian Tu-160 Blackjack aircraft which were escorted by the RAF until they were clear of the UK area of interest.

"At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into UK sovereign airspace."

It is the latest in a series of incidents involving Russian bombers near UK airspace.

Sky News Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall has described such incidents as the Russians "playing games".

"They don't come into British airspace, they don't come into European airspace, but they come into what is called a British area of interest," he said.

"These are games, in effect. The Russians, strictly speaking, aren't doing anything illegal but it does annoy the Ministry of Defence."

Britain summoned Russia's ambassador in January after RAF Typhoons were scrambled when two Russian bombers flew over the English Channel.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said the incident was part of an "increasing pattern of out of area operations by Russian aircraft".

NATO last year said there had been an "unusual" increase in activity from Russian military jets over European airspace ranging from the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.