Armed RAF fighter jets intercept Russian military anti-submarine warfare aircraft over the North Sea
Armed RAF fighter jets successfully intercepted a pair of Russian military aircraft after scrambling earlier today.
The pair of RAF Typhoons, which left RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, north east Scotland, early Friday afternoon, intercepted two Cold War-era TU-142 'Bear-F' Russian maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
Quickly racing to speeds of 985 kilometers per hour, the Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon were joined by an RAF Voyager to provide air-to-air refuelling.
They were tracked by Nato as they transited within the military alliance's northern air policing area over the North Sea, near UK airspace.
The Typhoons shadowed the aircraft throughout their journey as they approached UK airspace.
RAF Typhoons jets rushed to intercept an unidentified aircraft that flew into an 'area of UK interest'
The RAF successfully intercepted the Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft
In a statement, a Typhoon pilot from RAF Lossiemouth said: 'We worked closely with units from around the Royal Air Force to deliver another successful intercept, maintaining the integrity of UK and Nato airspace throughout.
'We were initially kept informed by our Nato colleagues and then routed directly to the Bears by the RAF Control and Reporting Centre.
'Air to air refuelling from an RAF Voyager ensured we were able to stay on task until the mission was complete, and the aircraft departed from the UK's area of interest.'
Russian military aircraft entering the UK Flight Information Region, the UK's controlled zone of international airspace, can pose a hazard to other air users, the RAF claimed.
It said the Russian planes often do not talk to air traffic control or 'squawk' - broadcasting a code ensuring they are visible to other air users and air traffic controllers on the ground.
Earlier today, RAF fighter jets based in Romania were on 'Quick Reaction Alert' and launched to meet Russian aircraft flying over the Black Sea.
The Typhoon jets scrambled after NATO radars detected Russian aircraft in international airspace over the southern Black Sea and heading towards Romanian territory.
The pair of fighter jets scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, north east Scotland , early Friday afternoon
Flight Lieutenant Charlie, one of the RAF Pilots from IX Squadron, said: 'When the Russian aircraft entered the Romanian Flight Information Region, we were scrambled to conduct a Combat Air Patrol in the area.
'As the suspect aircraft turned into Romanian airspace we were then instructed to visually identify the track.
'As we approached our Combat Air Patrol area, the Russian aircraft turned, headed away from us and left the FIR, at which point we resumed our air patrolling mission and practiced some air combat manoeuvres before returning to base.'
In April 2021, four Typhoons departed from RAF Lossiemouth and arrived at Mihail Kogălniceanu air base in the Black Sea as part of Operation BILOXI, the UK's contribution to NATO's 'air policing' operation in the eastern bloc.
Russian military aircraft entering the UK Flight Information Region, the UK's controlled zone of international airspace, can pose a hazard to other air users, the RAF claimed
Earlier this year, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace set out radical £3billion plans to shake-up the future of the British military under the latest national defence review.
The scheme includes plans to ground 24 Typhoon fighters among 114 RAF manned aircraft in the coming years, to be replaced by drones.
They will be replaced by the next generation of unmanned fighting platforms, including long-range Protector aircraft and 'swarming drones' that work alongside conventional attack aircraft.
Those pilots that do remain will be expected to spend more time in simulators as opposed to more conventional training in the cockpit under new RAF plans.
Under current training rules, RAF pilots spend 70 per cent of their time in the air with 30 per cent in simulators.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston said he wants this ratio reversed, with the majority of training to take place on the ground in advanced simulations - saving flight hours for fighting wars or demonstrations of power.