RAF jets scrambled to shadow Russian plane after noticed close to UK
- It comes as Royal Navy warships spent the past week shadowing Russian vessels
RAF jets have been scrambled to intercept two Russian aircrafts that were flying close to UK airspace.
Two typhoon jets were deployed from the RAF Lossiemouth and supported by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton to track two Russian Bear-F aircrafts operating near the UK.
The RAF jets were launched under NATO command on Wednesday with the aircrafts being monitored as they passed through international airspace.
A statement from the Ministry of Defence confirmed that ‘at no time did the Russian aircraft enter UK sovereign airspace’.
It comes as Royal Navy warships spent the past week closely shadowing the Russian Navy as four of its vessels sailed through the Channel and the North Sea.
Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence of a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Intercept of one Tu-95 Bear F on the September 11 captured from the pilots issued handheld camera
Defence secretary John Healey said: ‘This government is committed to making the UK secure at home and strong abroad.
‘Efforts by the Royal Navy and RAF over the last two weeks demonstrate their selfless commitment to protecting our national security.
‘Efforts by the Royal Navy and RAF over the last two weeks demonstrate their selfless commitment to protecting our national security.
‘I’d like to thank those members of our armed forces who took part in this operation, their professionalism and skill was on full display while working seamlessly with our NATO allies to uphold international standards.’
Portsmouth-based HMS Iron Duke trailed the Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk and its supporting tug Evgeny Churov through the Dover Strait and into the Atlantic.
The operation started at the beginning of September when they were spotted by Canadian warship HMCS Shawinigan that was travelling from the Baltic and headed across the North Sea.
Defence secretary John Healey hailed the work by the RAF and the Royal Navy in the past two weeks
HMS Iron Duke (back right) following Russian Navy Steregushchiy-class corvette RFS Stoiky
Monitoring duties were passed over to the Royal Navy as the Russian vessels approached the busy Dover Strait.
After the Russian vessels had passed UK waters, HMS Iron Duke handed over shadowing duties to the Marine Nationale off the northwest coast of France, where the frigate FS Auvergne took over.
Commanding officer of HMS Iron Duke Commander David Armstrong said: ‘These were the fourth and fifth such operations for HMS Iron Duke since we emerged from a period of intense training in July, and I am extremely proud of the professionalism and selfless dedication that my ship’s company consistently display as they perform their duty.
‘Maritime security operations of this nature are a fundamental capability of the Royal Navy, with the protection of our sovereign waters and critical national infrastructure a key focus.’
The RAF and Royal Navy are regularly deployed to track Russian aircrafts and vessels when they are near the UK but it comes at a time of increased tension due to the war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin has since warned that U.S. and NATO would be ‘at war’ with Russia if the West lets Ukraine use long-range missiles.
US and British foreign ministers met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Wednesday with the war at a pivotal point.
American officials have also been discussing easing restrictions on the use of weapons that could strike deep inside Russia.
Putin said the move from the West would ‘change the very nature of the conflict’, and issued a severe threat against giving Zelensky more firepower.
‘It would mean that NATO countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia,’ he told a state TV reporter on Thursday.
‘If that’s the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face.’
He added that clearing the way for Ukraine to use missiles that can hit Russian targets ‘is a decision on whether NATO countries are directly involved in the conflict or not”.
Putin’s warning came 24 hours before President Joe Biden is set to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House.
