The Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jets were scrambled this week after a suspected Russian long-range bomber was spotted over the UK airspace, and a quick military response was taken.
The accident happened on 14 April, when radar systems detected an unidentified plane approaching the northern boundary of the British air defence zone, off the Shetland Islands. The RAF responded by putting two Typhoon fighter jets on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) to patrol the area.
The Typhoons departed RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and were escorted by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker plane of RAF Brize Norton, enabling them to spend more time in the air should it be necessary.
Later defence sources reported that the aeroplane was thought to have been a Russian long-range bomber. But during the incident, it was not in UK sovereign airspace and did not have to be intercepted directly.
Rather, the jets of the RAF shadowed the plane at a safe distance as it flew over international airspace. After the bomber diverted and flew out of the UK, the Typhoons were called off and landed safely back at base.
Authorities emphasised that this type of response is normal but required. The RAF is in a continuous state of preparedness to protect UK airspace with QRA teams available 24 hours a day to counter any possible threat. These missions are meant to detect and track unknown planes, and any threat to national security is promptly evaluated.
The recent event is against the backdrop of an increase in tension between the NATO states and Russia, where there have been reports of increased military activities in the North Atlantic region. During recent weeks, British authorities have also monitored Russian submarines and naval vessels in and around UK waters, increasing their wider security concerns.
Although none of these incidents threateningly materialised at this event, it illustrates the tension in the relationship and the significance of fast reaction defence mechanisms. According to military analysts, these encounters have been on the increase, with this being a trend of Russian aircraft challenging NATO airspace boundaries, but not breaching them directly.
The Ministry of Defence reported no escalation in the wake of the incident but reiterated it was ready to respond decisively to defend its airspace and in allied operations. The recent scramble is a reminder that more vigilance has to be upheld to keep a closer check on the more active skies in and around Europe because geopolitical tensions do not appear to be calming down.
