RAF Typhoons scrambled to intercept Russian bomber 'approaching the UK'
A Russian bomber has been intercepted by RAF Typhoons while “approaching UK airspace" for the second time in three days.
The Tupolev Tu-95, known by the Nato codename “Bear” was from Vladimir Putin’s air force, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
It was intercepted by fighter jets from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and “escorted” out of British-monitored airspace on Friday.
The aircraft had been detected inside the UK’s flight information region by RAF Boulmer’s Control and Reporting Centre in Northumberland, which immediately scrambled the Typhoons.
The intervention followed a similar incident on Wednesday, when two Bear bombers were tracked over the North Sea as Nato radars picked up a series of Russian formations engaged in “significant military manoeuvres” ranging from the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
A spokesperson from the RAF said: “Following a similar incident on Wednesday 29 October, the RAF Typhoon pilots visually identified the Russian aircraft and escorted them through the UK flight information region.”
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