UK jets intercept Russian aircraft near British airspace

By Laura Perez Maestro and Jason Hanna, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 5:08 PM EST, Thu February 19, 2015
A Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber is escorted by a British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter during an intercept in September 2014. Click through the gallery to see other intercepts in late 2014.
A Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber is escorted by a British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter during an intercept in September 2014. Click through the gallery to see other intercepts in late 2014.
UK Ministry of Defence
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in November that alliance fighters had <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/21/world/europe/nato-russia-intercepts/index.html">intercepted Russian warplanes as they flew close to NATO countries more than 400 times</a> in 2014, the kind of Russian air activity not seen since the Cold War.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in November that alliance fighters had intercepted Russian warplanes as they flew close to NATO countries more than 400 times in 2014, the kind of Russian air activity not seen since the Cold War.
Norwegian Armed Forces
An armed MiG-31 intercepted by Norwegian planes. The plane is nicknamed the Foxhound by NATO.
An armed MiG-31 intercepted by Norwegian planes. The plane is nicknamed the Foxhound by NATO.
Norwegian Armed Forces
An armed Tu-22M supersonic bomber, nicknamed the Backfire by NATO, was photographed by Norwegian fighter jets.
An armed Tu-22M supersonic bomber, nicknamed the Backfire by NATO, was photographed by Norwegian fighter jets.
Norwegian Armed Forces
A look at a Russian Tu-22M from below as taken by a Norwegian Royal Air Force fighter plane.
A look at a Russian Tu-22M from below as taken by a Norwegian Royal Air Force fighter plane.
Norwegian Armed Forces
A Su-24 attack aircraft, nicknamed the Fencer by NATO, was photographed by a Norwegian warplane.
A Su-24 attack aircraft, nicknamed the Fencer by NATO, was photographed by a Norwegian warplane.
Norwegian Armed Forces
An armed MiG-31 Foxhound photographed from below by a Norwegian Royal Air Force interceptor.
An armed MiG-31 Foxhound photographed from below by a Norwegian Royal Air Force interceptor.
Norwegian Armed Forces
A Russian Il-78 tanker refuels a Tu-95 Bear bomber in a photograph taken by a Norwegian warplane.
A Russian Il-78 tanker refuels a Tu-95 Bear bomber in a photograph taken by a Norwegian warplane.
Norwegian Armed Forces
Two Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers, nicknamed the Fullback by NATO, as photographed by Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighters.
Two Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers, nicknamed the Fullback by NATO, as photographed by Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighters.
Finnish Air Force
Finnish fighter jets photographed this Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber.
Finnish fighter jets photographed this Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber.
Finnish Air Force
Two Tupolev Tu-22M aircraft intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.
Two Tupolev Tu-22M aircraft intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.
Finnish Air Force
A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.
A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.
Finnish Air Force
Russian warplane intercepts

Story highlights

UK: Russian military planes were flying in international waters near Cornwall

Russian aircraft didn't cross into British airspace, UK Defence Ministry says

CNN  — 

Two UK Royal Air Force jets intercepted a pair of Russian aircraft flying near British airspace this week, the British Defence Ministry said Thursday, marking the latest in what NATO has said is an increase in Russian military flights near alliance members’ territory.

The British Typhoon jets intercepted the Russian aircraft Wednesday over international waters near Cornwall, in southwestern England, a ministry representative said Thursday.

A Russian Bear aircraft is escorted by a Royal Air Force Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon during an intercept in September 2014. Royal Air Force aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth launched the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) for the first time since the Moray base took on the role of defending the UK's Northern airspace. Typhoon jets were scrambled to identify aircraft in international airspace. The aircraft, identified as Russian military 'Bears', did not enter UK airspace.
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Video claims to show UK jets escorting Russian bomber
01:30 - Source: CNN

“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,” the representative said.

The Defence Ministry didn’t specify what type of aircraft the Russians were flying.

In November, NATO said its members’ jets had been scrambled more than 400 times in 2014 to intercept Russian military flights close to members’ territories – a 50% increase over the previous year.

The increase harkens back to the days of the Cold War, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said November 20 during a visit to NATO member Estonia.

In a November report, the European Leadership Network listed more than 40 “close military encounters between Russia and the West” in the eight months from March to October.

Three of those – including a near collision between a Russian military plane and a Swedish passenger aircraft carrying 132 people – were classified as “high-risk” incidents that could have led to direct military confrontation between Russia and the West, according to the report, titled “Dangerous Brinksmanship.”

UK jets intercepted more than 100 Russian aircraft last year, according to the British Defence Ministry.

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