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Britain Scrambles Jets to Intercept Russian Bombers Britain Says It Sent Jets to Intercept Russian Bombers Off Cornwall
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — The British Royal Air Force scrambled warplanes to intercept two Russian bombers off the coast of Cornwall in southwest England, the Ministry of Defense said on Thursday, as a government minister sounded alarms about the Kremlin’s intentions elsewhere in Europe. LONDON — The British Royal Air Force scrambled warplanes to intercept two Russian bombers off the coast of Cornwall in southwest England, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday, as a government minister sounded alarms about the Kremlin’s intentions elsewhere in Europe.
Typhoon warplanes took off from an air base in eastern England and “escorted” the two Russian airplanes in international airspace “until they were out of the U.K. area of interest,” the ministry said in a statement. The encounter happened on Wednesday. The episode magnified concerns about the possibility of further moves by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia that could draw in the NATO alliance after advances by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Typhoon warplanes took off from an air base in eastern England and escorted the two Russian airplanes in international airspace “until they were out of the U.K. area of interest,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement. The encounter happened on Wednesday.
“At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into U.K. sovereign airspace,” the statement said. During the Cold War, Russian bombers routinely tested Western defenses by flying toward the coast, and there have been reports that the practice has been resumed as tensions have mounted over the conflict in Ukraine.“At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into U.K. sovereign airspace,” the statement said. During the Cold War, Russian bombers routinely tested Western defenses by flying toward the coast, and there have been reports that the practice has been resumed as tensions have mounted over the conflict in Ukraine.
Two Russian long-range bombers were spotted earlier this month flying along the English Channel between Britain and France off the southern English coast. Two Russian long-range bombers were spotted this month flying along the English Channel between Britain and France.
The Russian flights came as Britain’s defense minister, Michael Fallon, said President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia could replicate the tactics used in Ukraine in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, former Soviet bloc countries that are now members of NATO. The Russian flights came as Britain’s defense minister, Michael Fallon, said Mr. Putin could replicate the tactics used in Ukraine on the Baltic States — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, former Soviet bloc countries that are now members of NATO.
“NATO has to be ready for any kind of aggression from Russia, whatever form it takes. NATO is getting ready,” Mr. Fallon said, adding that he was “worried” about Mr. Putin exerting “pressure on the Baltics, the way he is testing NATO.” “NATO has to be ready for any kind of aggression from Russia, whatever form it takes. NATO is getting ready,” Mr. Fallon said, adding that he was worried about Mr. Putin exerting “pressure on the Baltics, the way he is testing NATO.”
“You have tanks and armor rolling across the Ukrainian border and you have an Estonian border guard being captured and not yet still returned,” Mr. Fallon told reporters traveling with him on a visit to Sierra Leone. “You have tanks and armor rolling across the Ukrainian border and you have an Estonian border guard being captured and not yet still returned,” Mr. Fallon told reporters from The Times of London and The Daily Telegraph traveling with him on a visit to Sierra Leone.
”When you have jets being flown up the English Channel, when you have submarines in the North Sea, it looks to me like it’s warming up,” he said. His remarks were relayed by the Press Association news agency. “When you have jets being flown up the English Channel, when you have submarines in the North Sea, it looks to me like it’s warming up,” he said.
Mr. Fallon described Mr. Putin’s strategy as “a very real and present danger.”
“He was testing NATO all last year, if you look at the number of flights and the maritime activity,” he continued.
“He flew two Russian bombers down the English Channel two weeks ago,” he said. “We had to scramble jets very quickly to see them off. It’s the first time since the height of the Cold War, it’s the first time that’s happened."
“That just shows you, you need to respond, each time he does something like that, you need to be ready to respond,” he said.
After the flights over the English Channel, the British government summoned the Russian ambassador to demand an explanation.
Russian military planes flying near British airspace caused “disruption to civil aviation,” the British Foreign Office said at the time, calling the maneuvers “part of an increasing pattern of out-of-area operations” by Russia.
Dismissing Britain’s concerns, the Russian ambassador said the patrols were routine.