RAF jets intercept Russian bomber over north Atlantic

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

One of the jets shadowing the bomber

Eurofighter Typhoons shadowed a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear-bomber" reconnaissance aircraft last Friday, which turned back before it reached UK skies. Two Typhoons were sent from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to meet the Bear-H aircraft after the early warning radar system detected it heading towards UK territory, according to the Ministry of Defence. The jets cover the UK Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) commitment together with Tornado F3 aircraft based at RAF Leeming and RAF Leuchars.

President Vladimir Putin announced this week that Russia has resumed long-range patrols by its bomber planes for the first time since the end of the Cold War.

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