The British Ministry of Defense said on Friday that it had mobilized fighter planes from its fleet after detecting the presence of a Russian military plane “near” its airspace.
The two British fighter jets were dispatched on Thursday to monitor a Russian Bear-F plane which was flying over the North Sea, the ministry statement said. Spotted in “the United Kingdom’s area of interest”, the plane did not, however, violate “the country’s sovereign airspace”, and “at no time”.
This incident comes a few days after Russian military ships were seen in the Channel, the ministry added. The Royal Navy had mobilized several ships to escort them.
“Our adversaries must not doubt our unwavering determination and our formidable ability to protect the United Kingdom,” said Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, quoted in the press release.
Incidents between Russian planes and aircraft from NATO member countries have increased in recent years, even before the start of the conflict in Ukraine. They often took place over the Baltic Sea, but also in the Black Sea and elsewhere.
In August 2023, Russian bombers were intercepted by British fighter jets while flying north of Scotland, in NATO-controlled airspace.
