Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

RAF Typhoon jets scrambled to intercept Russian bombers circling UK

Blackjack bombers fly around edges of British airspace in latest incident

Lizzie Dearden
Thursday 09 February 2017 10:38 EST
Comments
Two Russian 'Blackjack' aircraft similar to those intercepted
Two Russian 'Blackjack' aircraft similar to those intercepted (Wikimedia Commons)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

RAF jets have been scrambled to intercept Russian bomber planes that spent more than five hours skirting the edges of British airspace.

The Independent understands the Russian Tu-160 “Blackjack” bombers entered the UK’s area of interest from the north-east at around 10am, flying between the Shetland and Faroe islands, then down the west coast of Ireland and over the Bay of Biscay.

French and Spanish aircraft took over the interception but the two planes then turned around to head towards Russia, flying back into the British military’s “patch” while heading north. The bombers passed the coast of the Outer Hebrides shortly after 3pm.

Russian warships move through English Channel under Royal Navy watch

A Royal Air Force spokesman said: “We can confirm that quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby scrambled to monitor two Blackjack bombers while they were in the UK area of interest. At no point did the Russian aircraft enter UK territorial airspace.”

The Typhoons were supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton for the mission, which lasted several hours.

Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-160s are the world's largest combat aircraft and have been modernised for the ability to carry long-range nuclear cruise missiles. It was unclear if the planes circling the UK on Thursday were armed.

The incident is the latest RAF deployment in response to Russian military manoeuvres, following the tracking of Russian warships that passed through the English Channel on their way to bomb Syria last year.

HMS St Albans (foreground), escorting Russian Warships Petr Velikiy (centre) and the Admiral Kuznetsov (background), as they pass through the English Channel on their way back to Russia
HMS St Albans (foreground), escorting Russian Warships Petr Velikiy (centre) and the Admiral Kuznetsov (background), as they pass through the English Channel on their way back to Russia (PA)

Russian bombers have skirted British airspace on numerous occasions, including last February when two Russian Blackjack bombers were escorted by the RAF.

Vladimir Putin has been accused of Cold War-style “brinkmanship” over a series of similar incidents with Nato aircraft across Europe, with more than 100 Russian planes intercepted in 2014 alone.

Both Russia and Nato have held extensive military drills, sparking accusations of “warmongering” directed at both sides.

The Russian embassy in London and Russia’s ministry of defence could not be reached for comment.

Update, 11 January:

The Russian Embassy has asked us to make clear that it did respond to The Independent's request for a comment in relation to the incident described above. However, it did so after the report had been published and its response was limited to providing a phone number for the Russian defence ministry; a number which had already been called without reply.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in