Russian fighter jets scrambled after three UK warplanes detected close to border, Moscow claims
Russian fighter jets have been scrambled after three British warplanes have been detected close to the nation’s border, Moscow has claimed.
In an announcement, the nation’s ministry of defence claimed two RAF Typhoon fighter jets and an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft have been intercepted over the Black Sea.
It mentioned the planes made a U-turn when its personal jets approached – and they didn’t violate Russia’s airspace.
“The flight by the Russian fighter jets was carried out in strict compliance with the international rules for the use of airspace over international waters without crossing air routes or coming dangerously close to aircraft of a foreign state,” it added.
A brief video posted on-line by the Russian defence ministry – which it claimed was of the incident – appeared to indicate an RC-135 with the phrases “Royal Air Force” written on the facet.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence later confirmed the three RAF planes had been within the space, however described it as “a routine operation in international airspace”.
A spokesperson mentioned: “An RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft and its two Typhoon escorts carried out a routine operation in international airspace over the Black Sea on Monday 26 June.
“Russian plane have been noticed within the space. The RAF and Russian plane and their crews operated in a protected {and professional} method all through.”
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In March, Russian officers claimed to have sent jets to intercept two US strategic bombers that flew near its border over the Baltic Sea.
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A Russian plane was additionally mentioned to have been intercepted by British RAF and German fighter jets that very same month after it was recognized flying close to Estonian airspace.