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Associated Press

Britain’s Royal Air Force scrambled two fighter jets to intercept Russian strategic bombers near UK airspace on Monday, amid ongoing tensions.
The RAF confirmed that it sent Typhoon aircraft from the Lossiemouth base in Scotland on a “quick reaction alert” as two Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack bombers approached Britain.
“The Russian aircraft were initially monitored by a variety of friendly nation fighters and subsequently intercepted by the RAF in the North Sea,” the air force said.
“At no point did the Russian aircraft enter sovereign UK airspace.”

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the pair of bombers flew over the Barents, Norwegian and North seas during a 13-hour training mission that covered neutral waters, in line with international norms.
“All flights by Russian aircraft are performed in strict accordance with international rules for using airspace without infringement on any countries’ borders,” the ministry said in a statement.
Encounters between Russian and Nato warplanes have become increasingly frequent as Moscow has demonstrated its resurgent military might.
Russia also has increased its navy’s presence in the Mediterranean and other areas.
Last week, the HMS Westminster, a Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate, was ordered to intercept two Russian corvettes and two supporting vessels that neared UK waters en route to their Baltic base.


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Britain

UK fighter jets intercept Russian long-range bombers near British airspace

A handout photo made available by the British Ministry of Defence showing a Russian Blackjack Tupolev Tu-160 long-range bomber after a British Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon aircraft (not pictured) was scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, on Monday. Photo: British Ministry of Defence via EPA-EFE

epa06441064 A handout photo made available by the British Ministry of Defence (MOD)showing two Russian Blackjack Tupolev Tu-160 long-range bombers followed by a British Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon aircraft (L) scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, 15 January 2018. The MOD report that the RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth to monitor two Russian Blackjack Tupolev Tu-160 long-range bombers approaching British airspace. The RAF worked closely with NATO partners to monitor the jets as they passed through a variety of international airspace, before they were intercepted by the RAF in the North Sea. Subsequently, our fighters escorted the Russian Blackjacks north, out of the Britain’s area of interest. At no time did the Russian bombers enter British sovereign airspace. The Russian Military aircraft did not talk to air traffic control making them a hazard to all other aviation. EPA-EFE/RAF Lossiemouth / BRITISH MINIST MANDATORY CREDIT MOD: CR