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Dramatic footage shows RAF jets scrambled after Russian bombers spotted off the coast of Bournemouth

The incident comes just a day after a similar incident was reported off the coast of Cornwall on Wednesday

Jack Simpson
Friday 20 February 2015 07:05 EST
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The RAF jets were scrambled over Bournemouth last month
The RAF jets were scrambled over Bournemouth last month (Zveda TV)

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This is the dramatic moment RAF Typhoon fighters had to be scrambled to escort a Russian aircraft away from British airspace off the South Coast of the UK last month - just a day after two Russian Bear Bombers were intercepted off the coast of Cornwall.

The footage reported to have been taken on 28 January just off the coast of Bournemouth, shows three RAF typhoon fighters and one French Mirage fighter jet flying just metres away from the Tu-95 plane.

At one point the Typhoon fighter gets so close to the plane that the face of the RAF pilot can be seen.

The latest footage comes just over a day after the Ministry of Defence confirmed that RAF fighters were scrambled to escort two Russian Bear bombers away from UK airspace off the coast of Cornwall.

According to a spokesman, RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft were deployed after Russian aircraft were identified flying close to UK airspace.

At no point did the Russian planes enter UK sovereign airspace.

The latest incidents are part of a trend that has seen a significant increase in the number of incidents involving Russian military planes and ships making incursions close to the UK in the last year.

Despite former military men questioning the UK’s ability to deal with the Russia’s encroachment, the Prime Minister has said that the British military can cope.

In a speech yesterday, David Cameron said: “I think what this episode demonstrates is that we do have the fast jets, the pilots, the systems in place to protect the UK.”

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