On a trip to Kyiv on Tuesday Boris Johnson warned Russia that it would face sanctions the moment the 'first Russian toecap' stepped further into Ukrainian territory. HMS Kent and HMS Mersey were said to be in attendance. Meanwhile, it was reported on Wednesday morning that a Navy operation was launched to monitor Russian ships heading towards British waters overnight. “The RAF remains constantly alert and ready to intercept any potential airborne threat around UK airspace,” they added.

In November 2021, jets were launched in response to Russian TU-160 Blackjack strategic bombers.Īn RAF source added that its “primary responsibility is to defend the UK’s airspace, 24/7, 365”. Subsequently we intercepted and escorted four Russian Bear aircraft.' “We shouldn’t be intimidated by this, it has now become standard from Russia to distract us from its wider objective of widening its sphere of influence and aligning the country closer to China.”Ī Royal Air Force spokesman said: “Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighters based at RAF Lossiemouth supported by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton were scrambled today against unidentified aircraft approaching the UK area of interest. These tactics are part of a wider strategy to rattle the UK and essentially as a reminder that we cannot afford to send aircraft towards Ukraine because of threats to our airspace far closer to home,” he told The Telegraph. “Given the climate, this isn’t by accident. Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Defence Committee, said the interception was a “classic game of cat and mouse”. However, during the five hours they were circulating they did not enter UK sovereign airspace.Īlthough RAF sources sought to play down the significance of the interception of the aircraft, which they said happened around 10 times a year, senior Tory MPs said the timing was crucial given the volatile situation between Russia and the UK over its threats towards Ukraine. They intercepted the two Tu-95 Bear H bomber aircraft & two Tu-142 Bear F reconnaissance aircraft, flying north of Scotland, because they were in an “UK area of interest”. The jets, which launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, on Wednesday morning around 11am, were joined by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled to respond to a group of Russian “bear” bombers approaching UK airspace, the RAF has confirmed.

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