Two Russian nuclear bombers flew over the North Sea today, and were captured by RAF Typhoon fighter aircrafts and a Voyager Tanker.
Typhoon fighters were mobilized from Lossiemouth, north Scotland, and Coningsby, Lincolnshire. A refuelling plane from Brize Norton was also available.
The two Russian Tu-160 White Swan bombers entered ‘the UK area of interest,’ the ministry of defence confirmed.
Royal Netherlands Air Force claimed that they had sent two F-16 fighters in order to capture the bombers, and handed over the aircraft to the RAF allies.
Flight tracking data showed a NATO warplane was dispatched from Cologne and circled around the Norwegian coast before heading back to Germany.
According to flight tracking data, an RAF Voyager Tanker (RAF Brize Norton) was dispatched from RAF Brize Norton in order to observe the North Sea incident.
An RAF spokesman said: ‘Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighters from RAF Lossiemouth & Coningsby, supported by a Voyager Tanker from RAF Brize Norton, have been launched against an unidentified aircraft approaching the UK area of interest.
“We won’t be providing any further information on the ongoing operation until it is complete.”