UK says it intercepted two Russian bomber aircraft north of Scotland

A nonetheless picture from a video launched by Russia’s Defense Ministry, exhibits what it mentioned to be a Russian strategic bomber throughout a routine flight over worldwide waters within the Arctic, on this picture taken from footage launched August 14, 2023. Russian Defense Ministry/ Handout through REUTERS

LONDON — Britain mentioned its Typhoon fighter jets intercepted two Russian maritime patrol bomber plane in worldwide airspace north of Scotland on Monday, inside NATO’s northern air policing space.

“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 mentioned.

Britain mentioned its Typhoon jets are routinely scrambled throughout such incidents to safe and safeguard its skies.

British pilots additionally just lately led NATO’s air policing mission in Estonia, the place greater than 50 comparable air intercepts have been carried out, it added.

Earlier on Monday, Russia mentioned its strategic bombers had carried out routine flights over worldwide waters within the Arctic. — Reuters