RAF Air Force jets scrambled to intercept Russian bombers that were heading towards the UK’s aircraft carrier yesterday, on exercise off the coast of Scotland.
Typhoon jets shadowed two Tupulev 160 bombers as they flew out of the Arctic circle towards UK sovereign waters.
An RAF source said the Blackjacks were “a hazard to other aviation” because they were not talking to air traffic control or broadcasting their locations.
The Russians skirted Norway’s coast and flew south towards the Shetland Islands before looping round in tear shape yesterday afternoon.
The Quick Reaction Alert Typhoons, flown by pilots from RAF Lossiemouth, in Moray, were launched from Leuchars Station in Fife where the pilots are temporarily based.
It was the third time in six days the Typhoons had been scrambled in response to Russian planes.