UK fighter jets intercept Russian strategic bombers
Iran Press TV
Sat Sep 12, 2015 9:50AM
British media reports say RAF fighter jets have been scrambled to intercept a couple of supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic Russian bombers, aka Blackjacks, over the North Sea.
The Russian aircraft, two Tupolev Tu-160s, did not enter the UK airspace, but strayed near enough to the edge of international airspace to be in what is known as a 'British area of interest,' the Sky News said Friday.
A UK Ministry of Defense statement said, "RAF Quick Reaction Alert fighter aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland yesterday to meet two Russian aircraft."
It added that 'the Typhoon pilots visually identified the two Russian aircraft and escorted them whilst in the UK area of interest.'
British media dubbed the move as Russian 'games' which merely 'annoy the Ministry of Defense and Defense Secretary Michael Fallon.'
Reports say the Russian aircraft were flying in international airspace on Thursday.
A British pilot of the RAF Typhoons involved in the mission has been quoted by the state-run BBC as saying that "given the Royal Air Force's enduring commitment to secure the UK's skies, yesterday's sortie once again proved Typhoon's capability to successfully scramble and intercept Russian long-range aviation."
The UK has in the past accused Russia of making "a series of deliberately provocative" moves by flying bombers and strategic aircraft in its airspace- - a charge dismissed by Moscow.
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