[UK News] RAF Intercepts Russian Jets Near UK Airspace

[ddude_stnom]

RAF Intercepts Russian Jets Near UK Airspace
from Sky News

RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to intercept two Russian 'Blackjack' aircraft, it has been revealed.

The Russian planes did not enter UK airspace but strayed near enough to the edge of international airspace to be in what is known as a "British area of interest".

A Ministry of Defence statement said: "RAF Quick Reaction Alert fighter aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland yesterday to meet two Russian aircraft.

"The Typhoon pilots visually identified the two Russian aircraft and escorted them whilst in the UK area of interest."

"They don't come into British airspace, the don't come into European airspace, but they come into what is called a British area of interest," he said.

"These are games, in effect. The Russians, strictly speaking, aren't doing anything illegal but it does annoy the Ministry of Defence and it does annoy Defence Secretary Michael Fallon."

The planes are not what we are used to seeing when these incidents have occurred in the past, he added.

[Green_Giant]

So was this a deliberate attempt by the Russian airforce to bait the RAF? Or was there a different reason those planes entered our AoI?

[ddude_stnom]

So was this a deliberate attempt by the Russian airforce to bait the RAF? Or was there a different reason those planes entered our AoI?

This isn't the first time RAF jets have been sent up to intercept Russian aircraft. I believe it is mostly down to them testing the UK's 'alert system' and defense protocol and also to show the world what power they have in the air.