RAF Typhoon jets intercept Russian bombers flying north of Scotland

RAF Typhoon jets intercepted Russian bombers flying north of Scotland in the early hours of Monday 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 UK quick reaction alert (QRA) jets were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in northeast Scotland and the two Russian bombers were monitored in international airspace as they flew north of the UK.

A Voyager refuelling tanker was also launched and remained airborne for the duration of the mission - not specified by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) - to offer air-to-air refuelling to the Typhoon fighters if needed.

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."

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