RAF jets intercept two Russian 'Blackjack' aircraft over North Sea

Two Russian 'Blackjack' aircraft similar to those intercepted (Wikimedia Commons)

pRoyal Air Force jets have a href=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/two-russian-military-aircraft-intercepted-by-raf-typhoons-over-the-baltic-sea-10310104.htmlintercepted two Russian aircraft/a flying over the North Sea, the Ministry of Defence has said./p pThe two “Blackjack” jets were international airspace but were described as being in a “UK area of interest”./ppTyphoon aircraft were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and escorted the Russian planes away./ppA statement from the MoD read: “RAF Quick Reaction Alert fighter aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland yesterday to meet two Russian aircraft./pp img alt=pg-53-typhoon-reuters.jpg src=http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article8131322.ece/BINARY/pg-53-typhoon-reuters.jpg width=w460/ span class=caption The Eurofighter Typhoon, used by the RAF /span “The Typhoon pilots visually identified the two Russian aircraft and escorted them whilst in the UK area of interest.”/ppIn recent months Russian and Nato jets have stepped up patrols over the North Sea and Baltic. It is increasingly common for aircraft to fly close to the airspace of other nations in order to test defence response times./ppSquadron Leader Jim Calvert of II(AC) Squadron, who flew one of the RAF Typhoons involved in the mission, said:/pp /pp“Given the Royal Air Forces enduring commitment to secure the UKs skies, yesterdays sortie once again proved Typhoons capability to successfully scramble and intercept Russian long-range aviation./pp a class=escenic-gallery href=http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/in-pictures-eu-politicians-banned-from-entering-russia-by-the-kremlin-10288007.html id=10288007 In pictures: EU politicians banned from entering Russia by the Kremlin /a /pp“Protecting our skies is especially poignant in this 75th anniversary year of the Battle of Britain./pp“Working together with ground-based radar and air-to-air refuelling aircraft todays RAF continues to come together as a team to protect our country.”/ppemAdditional reporting by PA/em/p