RAF scrambles jets to ‘cold-war era’ Russian aircraft in UK airspace’

Russian planes often do not speak to air traffic control, the RAF said.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) launched fighter jets to intercept ‘cold-war era’ Russian military aircraft travelling in UK airspace and turn it away.

The RAF Typhoons jets, Phantom 11 and Phantom 12, were launched from the base in Lossiemouth in Moray, northeast Scotland on Friday afternoon and then an RAF voyager was sent up to give air-to-air refuelling.

Russia had deployed two TU-142 Bear-F Maritime Reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

But the country’s planes often do not ‘squawk’ – speak to air traffic control – and authorities did not know what was in UK airspace.

Nevertheless, Russian aircraft entering the UK Flight Information Region, international airspace controlled by the UK, can be hazardous to other flyers.

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.’

It has been a busy day for the country’s defence forces, as RAF jets based in Romania were put on ‘Quick Reaction Alert’ – when pilots and other forces are told to be ready to spring to action if needed.

It came after the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) detected Russian aircraft over the southern black sea.

Although the aircraft was in international airspace, it was thought to be heading towards Romanian territory.

So the RAF deployed Typhoon jets from its Romanian base but the Russian aircraft turned away from them.

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An RAF pilot from IX (Bomber) Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Charlie 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 practised some air combat manoeuvres before returning to base.’ 

The RAF also had to intercept Russian planes in November last year. The Russian planes had entered British airspace over the North Sea.

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