RAF Typhoon jets scramble for second day in ROW after Russian bomber interceptors

RAF jets scrambled for the second day in a row with an unidentified aircraft heading towards the UK’s “region of interest”.

It appeared after the fighter aircraft RAF Typhoon “intercepted and escorted” four Russian Bears plane on Wednesday.

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The type of aircraft that approached the UK’s “area of ​​interest” on Thursday morning has yet to be confirmed.

An RAF spokesman said: “RAF Lossiemouth Typhoon fighters, supported by an RAF Brize Norton Voyager tanker, were flown to counter aircraft approaching the area where the King was flying. UK is interested.

“We will not provide any additional details about this ongoing operation until this is complete.”

It comes just a day after Typhoons intercepted four Russian jets.

Two Russian Tu-95 Bear H strategic bombers are escorted by two Tu-142 Bear F anti-submarine warfare and maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

Footage taken by Russian crews aboard one of the Tu-95s shows the plane practicing aerial refueling before two RAF jets appear on either side of the bomber.

The RAF confirmed it had “intercepted and escorted” four aircraft.

The RAF Lossiemouth-based Rapid Response Alert Agency Typhoon fighters supported by a Voyager vessel from RAF Brize Norton today scrambled for unidentified aircraft, the spokesperson said. reach the UK area of ​​interest.

“We then intercepted and escorted four Russian Bear planes.”

At no time did Russian bombers enter UK sovereign airspace.

A Russian report said: “During the flight, the crews of the Tu-95 aircraft practiced refueling in the air.

“Flight time is about 15 hours.

“At several stages of the route, Russia’s strategic missile carriers are escorted by British Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.”

Jet skirmishes are not uncommon, with the RAF already armed and ready to intercept any undetected aircraft at all times.

They have been launched in the past to obscure Russian military planes flying near UK airspace.

Rapid Response Alerts (QRAs) are not uncommon and have been around since the Cold War era.

Russian warplanes can be a danger because they don’t “call” or transmit codes that reveal their altitude and intentions.

They also don’t speak to UK air traffic controllers, meaning other planes have to be rerouted to avoid catastrophic crashes.

It comes amid growing concern that Moscow may be preparing to invade Ukraine as soon as February when Western countries confront Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

Tensions are coming to a boil Russia continues to increase its large-scale military presence domestically and internationally.

The US has sent 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe as Joe Biden warned Ukraine’s President to “prepare for impact” when Russia could invade within the next few days.

The US president has told Volodymyr Zelensky that an invasion in February is now “almost certain” with more than 120,000 Russian troops massed on the border over long distances.

But Western allies are showing that the Kremlin will face an uphill battle forces and equipment are being transferred to Ukraine and the surrounding Nato countries as the whole world watched.

More to follow…