News / Military

RAF in new confrontation with Russian Air Force over North Sea

Sunday, 29 November 2020 4:50 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 29 November 2020 4:51 PM ]

A Typhoon squadron at RAF Lossiemouth is tasked with keeping a watchful eye on Russian military aircraft over the North Sea

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has tried to engage Russian air force assets over the North Sea with a view to deterring them from approaching British air space.

According to the RAF, the incident occurred on Saturday (November 28).

— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) November 28, 2020 ">http://

RAF Typhoon fast jets were scrambled from @RAFLossiemouth this morning to intercept Russian military aircraft operating over the North Sea near UK airspace.

Full story: https://t.co/Ge48jnGHj2 pic.twitter.com/uJCa9A2rqC
— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) November 28, 2020

Two Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray (Scotland) after two Russian Tupolev TU-142 Bear F planes were detected approaching British air space.

The Tupolev TU-142 Bear F aircraft specializes in maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.

Earlier this year, the commander of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, mocked the Russian Tu-142 Bear Fs as “relics of the Cold War” which according to him pose a “hazard to civilian and military aircraft”.

RAF chief taunts Russian air force after routine encounter

Following a routine encounter between British and Russian military aircraft off the Scottish coast the commander of the British air force has launched an unprecedented verbal attack on the Russian air force.

In Saturday’s incident, an RAF Voyager aircraft from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire was also deployed to provide air-to-air refueling for the Typhoons, while Nato allies reportedly assisted with monitoring the Russian planes.

Controllers from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire coordinated the mission in partnership with Nato allies at the Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany.

Like previous incidents, there is no suggestion that the Russian aircraft had violated UK airspace.

The last incident of this kind occurred back in September when similar to Saturday’s confrontation two RAF Typhoons were launched to counter two TU-142 Bear F aircraft.

RAF in latest interception of Russian aircraft off Scotland coast

The Royal Air Force has had another encounter with Russian aircraft close to Scottish air space raising fears of an accident or worse.

In a statement the RAF said it was “essential” that the movement of Russian aircraft were “carefully monitored” when operating close to British airspace.

The statement added that Russian military aircraft flying within the UK’s “Flight Information Region” constitute a potential “hazard” in the “busy airspace” over the North Sea.

The Russian air force has so far not commented on the incident.