RAF Typhoons scrambled for second day in a row
RAF Typhoon fighters have scrambled and intercepted Russian military aircraft near the UK for the second day in a row.
Like the incident on Wednesday, the fighters were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker stationed at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
The Typhoons intercepted and escorted two Russian Tu-95 Bear F bombers out of the UK area of interest.
At no point did the Russian aircraft enter UK sovereign airspace.
The RAF worked with NATO partners to monitor the aircraft as they travelled through international airspace.
An RAF spokesperson said: "Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighters based at RAF Lossiemouth supported by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton were scrambled today against aircraft approaching the UK area of interest.
"Subsequently we intercepted and escorted two Russian Tu-95 Bear F aircraft."
The RAF routinely intercepts aircraft approaching what it describes as the "UK area of interest".
The incident on Wednesday saw Typhoons intercept and escort four Russian jets, also out of the UK area of interest.
Speaking after the scramble on Wednesday, defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke warned the UK can expect "more potential incursions, more cyber hacking... and more propaganda" as tensions continue to rise over Russia's military build-up near Ukraine's borders.
"I doubt if these things are matters of coincidence, the fact that we've got aircraft encroaching on British airspace and ships apparently coming into the Channel with their transponders turned off," he said.
Join Our Newsletter
