Moment RAF jets kept Vladimir Putin's bomber in check
Moment RAF jets kept Vladimir Putin's bomber in check
Putin taunts Britain: RAF Typhoons scramble for SECOND day in a row as 'unknown' aircraft approach Britain... after four Russian bombers flew within 100 miles of UK airspace - while Moscow readies NUKES and masses 30,000 troops in Belarus
Typhoons scrambled from Lossiemouth today after 'unknown' aircraft tracked by RAF near 'area of interest'
Comes a day after RAF aircraft were involved in a mid-air standoff with four Russian bombers over North Sea
Dramatic incident was hours before Russian president Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke
Tensions are ratcheting up over Ukraine, with Putin massing 30,000 troops near the country's border
Includes Spetsnaz special forces, backed by fighter jets, anti-aircraft systems and tanks, alliance has warned
The RAF has scrambled Typhoon fighters to intercept 'unknown' aircraft approaching UK airspace, just a day after jets escorted four Russian bombers away from the coast of Scotland.
A spokesman confirmed that the Typhoons, launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, have been joined by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
He added that further information would not be disclosed 'on this ongoing operation until complete'. The news comes after RAF jets responded to four Russian strategic bombers approaching the UK's 'area of interest' yesterday, at points coming within 100 miles of UK airspace.
Vladimir Putin is continuing to ratchet up the pressure on Ukraine, massing nuclear-capable missiles and 30,000 troops in Belarus, according to NATO, amid fears of a huge refugee crisis if Ukraine invasion goes ahead.
A dramatic video yesterday revealed the moment RAF Typhoon fighter jets escorted a quartet of Russian aircraft off the coast of Scotland after they headed towards UK airspace over the North Sea.
The Typhoons were scrambled from Lossiemouth in Moray after two Russian Tu-95 Bear H bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons and two maritime patrol Tu-142 Bear F aircraft were tracked by the RAF near the 'UK's area of interest' over the North Sea.
The Tu-95s had flown from Engels air base in Saratov region, with the Tu-142 flying from Kipelovo air base in Vologda region.
After a mid-air standoff of several minutes yesterday afternoon they were escorted away without entering UK airspace – with the incident coming just hours before Russian president Vladimir Putin and Boris Johnson spoke.
The Russian footage highlights a mission that came soon after Mr Johnson's return from a visit to Kyiv on Tuesday and before he warned the Kremlin leader yesterday that an attack on Ukraine would be a 'tragic miscalculation'.
The 'area of interest' is further from the British Isles and includes international airspace, but the UK is responsible for policing it and providing air traffic control services. While such operations are not unusual, the timing of the incident on the day
Putin taunts Britain: RAF Typhoons scramble for SECOND day in a row as 'unknown' aircraft approach Britain... after four Russian bombers flew within 100 miles of UK airspace - while Moscow readies NUKES and masses 30,000 troops in Belarus
Typhoons scrambled from Lossiemouth today after 'unknown' aircraft tracked by RAF near 'area of interest'
Comes a day after RAF aircraft were involved in a mid-air standoff with four Russian bombers over North Sea
Dramatic incident was hours before Russian president Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke
Tensions are ratcheting up over Ukraine, with Putin massing 30,000 troops near the country's border
Includes Spetsnaz special forces, backed by fighter jets, anti-aircraft systems and tanks, alliance has warned
The RAF has scrambled Typhoon fighters to intercept 'unknown' aircraft approaching UK airspace, just a day after jets escorted four Russian bombers away from the coast of Scotland.
A spokesman confirmed that the Typhoons, launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, have been joined by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
He added that further information would not be disclosed 'on this ongoing operation until complete'. The news comes after RAF jets responded to four Russian strategic bombers approaching the UK's 'area of interest' yesterday, at points coming within 100 miles of UK airspace.
Vladimir Putin is continuing to ratchet up the pressure on Ukraine, massing nuclear-capable missiles and 30,000 troops in Belarus, according to NATO, amid fears of a huge refugee crisis if Ukraine invasion goes ahead.
A dramatic video yesterday revealed the moment RAF Typhoon fighter jets escorted a quartet of Russian aircraft off the coast of Scotland after they headed towards UK airspace over the North Sea.
The Typhoons were scrambled from Lossiemouth in Moray after two Russian Tu-95 Bear H bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons and two maritime patrol Tu-142 Bear F aircraft were tracked by the RAF near the 'UK's area of interest' over the North Sea.
The Tu-95s had flown from Engels air base in Saratov region, with the Tu-142 flying from Kipelovo air base in Vologda region.
After a mid-air standoff of several minutes yesterday afternoon they were escorted away without entering UK airspace – with the incident coming just hours before Russian president Vladimir Putin and Boris Johnson spoke.
The Russian footage highlights a mission that came soon after Mr Johnson's return from a visit to Kyiv on Tuesday and before he warned the Kremlin leader yesterday that an attack on Ukraine would be a 'tragic miscalculation'.
The 'area of interest' is further from the British Isles and includes international airspace, but the UK is responsible for policing it and providing air traffic control services. While such operations are not unusual, the timing of the incident on the day