An RAF jet fighter was scrambled to the north of Scotland yesterday after two Russian military aircraft strayed close to Nato airspace.
The incident happened amid heightened tensions in Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists are poised to stage an overthrow of the government in the country’s east.
Yesterday’s near-encroachment prompted a rapid response from the UK, with an RAF Typhoon aircraft mobilised as part of the force’s quick-reaction alert procedure.
It took off from RAF Leuchars, in Fife – one of two stations responsible for protecting the UK’s airspace 24 hours a day.
The Russian planes were believed to be Tupolev 95s, which are large, four-engine turboprop-powered bombers. A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed details of the operation last night.
He said: “Typhoon quick-reaction alert aircraft were launched from RAF Leuchars to determine the identity of unknown aircraft that approached the Nato air policing area north of Scotland, and could not be identified by other means.
“The aircraft were subsequently identified as Russian military aircraft. The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace at all times as they are perfectly entitled to do so.
“Russian military flights have never entered UK sovereign airspace without authorisation.”
It was the latest in a series of similar incidents involving Russian military hardware in the waters and airspace of north Scotland.
In 2007, two Tupolev 95s flew over Aberdeen early one morning as a diplomatic row raged between Russia and the UK over the death of former spy Alexander Litvinenko.
In 2010, fighter aircraft from RAF Leuchars were scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers flying in UK airspace over the Outer Hebrides. Two RAF Tornado F3s from 111 Squadron shadowed the Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack supersonic bombers over Stornoway in Lewis.
The Royal Navy also shadowed a Russian naval vessel off the Moray coast just before Christmas last year. It was believed to have been taking part in a Russian task group operation, which may have involved other ships from the Baltic Fleet.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated in Russia last night when foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said the country would respond if its interests in Ukraine were attacked. Military manoeuvres have led to massed ranks of Russian troops being stationed close to Ukraine’s borders over the past few weeks.
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