The UK Royal Air Force's (RAF) Typhoon fighters were reportedly scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft flying near the country’s airspace.
The two Typhoon jets were deployed from RAF Lossiemouth airbase in Scotland, UK, after two Russian planes entered the airspace, reported media sources citing the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The RAF quick reaction alert (QRA) fighter aircraft returned safely to RAF Lossiemouth after the mission, Reuters reported.
The RAF and Royal Navy frequently scramble fighter aircraft to prevent Russian aircraft from entering the UK airspace.
In February this year, the UK sent fighter jets to monitor two Tupolev TU-160 Blackjack bombers from Russia, which passed near its airspace, BBC News reported.
Earlier in January, the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans was deployed to hamper the movement of Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and its battlegroup as the vessels sailed near UK territorial waters.
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By GlobalDataThe RAF’s Typhoon detachment was also deployed to the Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) airbase near Constanta, Romania, in April to take part in Nato's enhanced air policing mission.
Nato has increased intercepts of Russian aircraft in recent years amid increased tensions between the West and Moscow over the Ukraine crisis, Reuters reported.
To secure Nato's airspace over Romania, four Typhoon FGR4s will operate alongside 150 personnel from the RAF.
The addition of British RAF aircraft expands the Romanian air policing assets and both air forces will conduct attacks in agreement with one another.
Image: Two RAF Typhoons in flight. Photo: courtesy of MoD/Crown.