Russian ‘Bear’ bombers intercepted by RAF fighter jets in ‘UK’s area of interest’

On Monday morning two Russian long-range bombers known as “Bears” were intercepted by RAF Typhoon fighter jets north of Scotland.

The Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said the RAF Typhoons were “ready to counter any potential threat to UK territory” as they monitored the Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J maritime patrol aircraft.

The Russian bombers are typically used for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare and NATO has named them “Bear F.”

The RAF also launched a Voyager tanker which offers air refuelling should the Typhoons require to extend the operational range of the aircraft.

Also, today the Russian Defence Ministry said they scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet after they detected Norwegian aircraft flying over the Barents Sea.

They said in a statement, “The crew of the Russian fighter jet identified the air target as an R-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft of the Norwegian Air Force.”

The Ministry said that the Norwegian jets turned around as they approached the Russian border.

The Danish Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on Monday that they scrambled F-16 fighter jets to intercept Russian bombers which had entered Denmark’s airspace.

The Danish MoD said, “the Russian aircraft were in international airspace and did not cross into Danish airspace at any time.”