British fighter jets today intercepted two Russian bombers north of Scotland and within NATO’s northern air policing area.
The RAF Typhoon fighter jets scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray to monitor the flight path of the Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J aircraft.
Such Russian aircraft are packed with an array of communications and reconnaissance equipment that makes them adept at monitoring submarine activity.
It is the latest instance of Russian military aircraft flying close to NATO airspace in a period of heightened tension between Moscow and the West.
The RAF’s top pilots have intercepted Russian warplanes more than 50 times in just four months during a four-month mission to protect NATO’s eastern flank.
RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over UK air space and are always ready to take action at a moment’s notice to keep our country safe,’ Armed forces minister James Heappey said.
‘Pilots launched in their Typhoon jets to intercept two Russian long-range bombers this morning, monitoring them as they passed north of the Shetland Islands, ready to counter any potential threat to UK territory.’
The lead RAF Typhoon pilot added: ‘It’s really satisfying to know we’ve been able to make a successful intercept, maintaining the integrity of UK and NATO airspace.
‘When the alarm for a scramble happened in the early hours of the morning, the adrenaline kicked in. Working in tandem with ground control operators, and with air-to-air refuelling from an RAF Voyager, we were able to stay on task until the mission was complete, and the target aircraft departed the UK’s area of interest.’
A Voyager tanker was also scrambled and remained airborne for the duration of the mission to offer air-to-air refuelling, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The presence of the Voyager meant the Typhoons could remain in the air for the extended period necessary to complete their mission.
Meanwhile, Russia announced on Monday that it had dispatched a MiG-29 fighter jet to ‘prevent a violation’ of its own border by a Norwegian military patrol aircraft over the Barents Sea.
‘As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign military plane made a U-turn away from the borders of the Russian Federation,’ the Russian defence ministry said.
‘There was no violation of the border,’ the statement added, identifying the Norwegian aircraft as a P-8A Poseidon patrol plane.
The defence ministry said its flight was carried out in accordance with international rules, ‘without crossing air routes or making dangerous rapprochement.’
NATO member Norway shares a land border with Russia as well as a maritime border in the Barents Sea, and acts as a large obstacle to Russian incursions in the north.
Incidents involving Russian and Western aircraft have multiplied over the recent months against the backdrop of Russia’s large-scale military intervention in Ukraine.
Separately, the Russian defence ministry said some of its strategic bombers carried out scheduled flights over neutral waters of the Baltic and northern seas, including the Barents Sea.
Over four months, Typhoon pilots based at a military HQ in Estonia flew more than 500 hours as the spearhead of the alliance’s mission to deter Kremlin jets from muscling into NATO airspace.
Royal Air Force personnel returned to the UK following the taxing four-month operation to protect the skies over the Baltic from Putin’s forces earlier this month.
During the most hectic period of the deployment, British pilots from No IX (Bomber) and No 1 (Fighter) squadrons, based at RAF Lossiemouth , were scrambled 21 times in just 21 days to intercept Putin’s warplanes.
The deployment, codenamed ‘Op Azotize’, began with RAF pilots flying missions alongside the German Air Force, which is when the first ever joint air intercept between NATO allies took place.
British and German Typhoons shadowed a Russian air-to-air refuelling aircraft and transport aircraft flying between St Petersburg and Kaliningrad.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: ‘Hundreds of RAF pilots and personnel have spent months away from their families, working round-the-clock alongside our allies to keep Europe’s skies safe.
‘The UK’s successful leadership of NATO’s air policing mission in Estonia, resulting in the interception of dozens of Russian aircraft by the RAF, sends a strong message to Putin that we stand united with our allies against any threat to our borders.’
The fighter jet squadron was always held at a moment’s notice – ready to scramble and take on any possible threat in the skies.
Their job intercept the Russian jets as fast as possible so they can be identified, and information relayed to ground controllers to ensure there is no serious.
After taking full leadership of the air policing operation, RAF Typhoons regularly flew QRA missions – intercepting 21 Kremlin fighters, long-range bombers, and reconnaissance aircraft in just three weeks.
Defence Minister Baroness Goldie paid tribute to the ‘commitment and dedication’ of the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing in protecting NATO airspace.
‘The day to day, personal sacrifices made not only by the individuals but also their families in the name of duty are nothing short of commendable,’ she added.
While deployed in Estonia, the RAF took place in the largest NATO Air Deployment exercise since the Cold War.
In a potent show of force to Putin, the alliance had more than 250 aircraft and 10,000 personnel from 25 NATO and partner nations involved in the aerial war games.
Last month, MailOnline exclusively revealed what life on the frontline was like for British pilots defending NATO’s borders.
In one clip, a Typhoon shadows a TU-214 – the ‘Flying Kremlin’ – as it flew from Moscow along the Baltic coast.
Another piece of footage showed the moment vapour trails from a Russian jet – known as a ‘Zombie’ – were draped across the sky as the British Typhoon closes in at over 400mph.
Flying from Amari Airbase, about 30 miles from the Estonian capital Tallin, the pilots of 1 Fighter Squadron followed in the footsteps of those who fought in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940.
Just as the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots did over 80 years ago, the modern-day aces still ‘scramble’ to engage their foes.
That means getting airborne as fast as possible in a jet that can hit a speed of Mach 2 – 1,550mph.
Pilots on quick reaction alert duty might be sleeping or relaxing in a crew room watching TV when an alarm sounds.
‘As soon as we hear the siren sound, and it is so loud everyone in the building hears the siren we just run as fast we can to the hangar where the Typhoon is waiting, said RAF Flight Lieutenant Ben, whose full name we are withholding for security reasons.
‘I often sleep in my flying suit and put the rest of the kit on as I get out to the plane. I run up the steps and strap in while I start getting messages about the flight, such as speed and the direction to take.’
Six Typhoon single seat fighter jets form the QRA force.
Britain’s Air and Space Commander, Air Marshal Harv Smyth, said the RAF team had excelled’ in its mission to protect NATO airspace.
Credit: Daily Mail
Leave a Reply