Britain intercepts 2 Russian bomber jets north of Scotland as Moscow claims Norway tried to violate its airspace
- The Russian maritime patrol bomber aircraft were in international airspace north of the Shetland Islands, within Nato’s northern air policing area
- Incidents involving Russian and Western aircraft have multiplied over recent months against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Britain said its Typhoon fighter jets intercepted two Russian maritime patrol bomber aircraft in international airspace north of Scotland on Monday, within Nato’s northern air policing area.
“Pilots launched in their Typhoon jets to intercept two Russian long-range bombers this morning, monitoring them as they passed north of the Shetland Islands, ready to counter any potential threat to UK territory,” British armed forces minister James Heappey said.
Britain said its Typhoon jets are routinely scrambled during such incidents to secure and safeguard its skies.
British pilots also recently led Nato’s air policing mission in Estonia, where more than 50 similar air intercepts were carried out, it added.
Earlier on Monday, Russia said its strategic bombers had carried out routine flights over international waters in the Arctic.
Russia announced on Monday that it had dispatched a MiG-29 fighter jet to “prevent a violation” of its border by a Norwegian military patrol aircraft over the Barents Sea.