UK RAF jets scrambled to chase two Russian bomber aircraft

London: British air force jets chased away two Russian bombers flying close to the UK airspace, the second such incident in a fortnight which is likely to further worsen already poor bilateral relations.

The two Russian military aircraft, spotted off the Cornwall coast on Wednesday, were escorted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) until they were out of the “UK area of interest”, a spokesperson for UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

Russian Tupolev TU-95 bombers, also known as Russian Bear bombers, did not enter UK sovereign airspace, he stressed.

“RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft were launched after Russian aircraft were identified flying close to UK airspace. The Russian planes were escorted by the RAF until they were out of the UK area of interest. At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into UK sovereign airspace,” he said.

The interception of the Bears comes a fortnight after similar aircraft flew into the English Channel, prompting the Government to summon the Russian ambassador in January and demand an explanation.

Meanwhile, UK defence secretary Michael Fallon has warned that there is a “real and present danger” of Russia trying to destabilise three Baltic states.

Fallon, during a trip to Sierra Leone yesterday, spoke of his concerns about Russian interference in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

As tensions between NATO and Russia have worsened over the Ukraine crisis, Moscow has significantly increased the number of military flights probing NATO airspace.

The number of interceptions over the Baltic States trebled last year.

PTI