Two Russian bombers with underwater trackers were stopped by British fighter jets in Scotland’s north and within NATO’s northern air policing zone.
RAF Typhoons observed the Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J maritime patrol aircraft in international air space as they traveled north of the UK. These aircraft are employed for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.
Armed forces minister James Heappey said: “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.
“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.’
According to the Ministry of Defence, a Voyager tanker was also scrambled and kept in the air for the length of the mission to provide air-to-air refueling.
The Typhoons could stay in the air for the prolonged period of time required to execute their mission because to the Voyager’s presence.