RAF Typhoon jets intercepted Russian bombers flying north of Scotland this morning, the UK government has said.
Typhoon fighters were scrambled to intercept two Russian long-range maritime patrol bombers as they transited near the Shetland Islands within NATO’s northern air policing area, the government added.
The jets were launched from RAF Lossiemouth, located in north-east Scotland, and the two Russian bombers were monitored in international airspace as they flew north of the UK.
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Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, said: “RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over UK airspace and are always ready to take action at a moment’s notice to keep our country safe.
“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.”