RAF fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft off Scottish coast

RAF fighter jets intercepted two Russian aircraft off the Scottish Coast on Saturday.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the RAF Typhoons, which are based at RAF Lossiemouth, were scrambled after the Russian aircraft “entered the UK’s controlled zone of international airspace”.

The Russian planes were identified as TU-142 Bear F maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

A Eurofighter Typhoon (near) and a Russian Bear F aircraft (far), one of two Russian aircraft the Typhoon was sent to intercept off the Scottish Coast from Leuchars Station.

The MoD spokesman added that monitoring the zone ensures the safe passage for all other aircraft, including civilian transatlantic airliners that are under UK civilian air traffic control.

The Quick Reaction Alert Typhoons are currently based at former RAF Leuchars.

This is now the British Army’s Leuchars Station, the home of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

On Friday, the RAF confirmed that its Typhoons had joined large-scale military exercises over the North Sea with the US Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

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