Russian Military Pictures & Videos

​

The Telegraph said:

RAF Typhoon fighters have scrambled to intercept Russian long-range bombers flying north of the UK.

The incident on Thursday saw jets from RAF Lossiemouth called to the 'Blackjack' bombers flying in international airspace near the UK.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Sqn Ldr Jim Calvert of II (AC) Squadron, who flew one of the two intercepting Typhoons, said: "Given the Royal Air Force’s enduring commitment to secure the UK’s skies, yesterday’s sortie once again proved Typhoon’s capability to successfully scramble and intercept Russian long-range aviation.

"Protecting our skies is especially poignant in this 75th anniversary year of the Battle of Britain. Working together with ground-based radar and air-to-air refuelling aircraft today’s RAF continues to come together as a team to protect our country."

Voyager air-to-air tankers were launched from RAF Brize Norton during the scramble to refuel the Typhoons.

The Tupolev Tu-160 long range strategic bomber is known by the Nato codename of Blackjack, but is known to its pilots as White Swan.

The supersonic bomber is the largest combat aircraft in the world. It was the last strategic bomber designed for the Soviet Union and entered service in 1987.

It can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons including long-range missiles.

Click to expand...

​