RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled on Wednesday to intercept two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers heading towards UK airspace.
The Telegraph reports:
The Typhoon jets were dispatched from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Wednesday afternoon following the security alert.
An RAF spokesman said the situation was “on-going” and was not uncommon.
He said: “We have Typhoons up on a quick reaction alert. The situation is on-going.”
It is believed the aircraft are with the Long Range Aviation branch of the Russian military. They have never penetrated UK airspace.
Typhoon jets can be deployed in a range of operations, including combat.
More recently, Typhoons have been involved in the campaign against Islamic State in Syria, with jets dispatched from the British military base of RAF Akrotiri.
RAF Typhoons 2ZO41 & 42 intercepts 2x RUAF Tu-160s serials RF-94101 and RF-94104 off the coast of the UK
— Mil Radar (@MIL_Radar) February 17, 2016
Confirmed as two Tu-160 Blackjacks, RF-94101 and RF-94104
— Kyle Greet (@KyleGreet) February 17, 2016
