The RAF has confirmed that they were forced to intercept two Russian aircrafts today, (August 6) after they came too close to UK airspace.
The Royal Airforce said that Typhoons, which are based at RAF Lossiemouth, quickly reacted to monitor a pair of TU-142 ‘Bear-F’ Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-submarine warfare aircraft
The Typhoons were joined on the mission by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton to provide air-to-air refuelling.
They intercepted what the RAF describe as two cold war era aircraft which were then tracked by NATO as they transited within NATO’s northern air policing area.
An RAF Typhoon pilot said: “We worked closely with units from around the Royal Air Force to carry out this successful intercept, maintaining the integrity of UK and NATO airspace throughout.
"The aircraft were intercepted over the North Sea with the RAF Typhoons shadowing the aircraft throughout their time in the area of interest.
“We were routed directly to the TU-142 by the RAF Control and Reporting Centre and kept informed by our NATO colleagues. 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.”
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