UK Royal Air Force Typhoons, similar to this one seen in 2014, scrambled to intercept Russian bombers flying near British airspace, the British Defence Ministry said. It is one of the latest incidents in what NATO has said is an increase in Russian military flights near alliance members' territory.
UK Royal Air Force Typhoons, similar to this one seen in 2014, scrambled to intercept Russian bombers flying near British airspace, the British Defence Ministry said. It is one of the latest incidents in what NATO has said is an increase in Russian military flights near alliance members' territory.
Stephen Pond/Getty Images/File
An American RC-135U, similar to this one, was intercepted by a Russian fighter jet earlier this month while flying in international airspace north of Poland. The U.S. crew believed the Russian pilot's actions were "unsafe and unprofessional due to the aggressive maneuvers it performed in close proximity to their aircraft and its high rate of speed," Pentagon spokesman Mark Wright said.
An American RC-135U, similar to this one, was intercepted by a Russian fighter jet earlier this month while flying in international airspace north of Poland. The U.S. crew believed the Russian pilot's actions were "unsafe and unprofessional due to the aggressive maneuvers it performed in close proximity to their aircraft and its high rate of speed," Pentagon spokesman Mark Wright said.
courtesy U.S. Air Force
British Royal Air Force jets intercepted this Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber in October.
British Royal Air Force jets intercepted this Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber in October.
Royal AIr Force/AP
An F-15 Eagle from the 19th Fighter Squadron takes off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. F-15 fighters intercepted Russian bombers off California in June.
An F-15 Eagle from the 19th Fighter Squadron takes off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. F-15 fighters intercepted Russian bombers off California in June.
USAF
Fighter jets from the Netherlands intercepted two Russian bombers in Dutch airspace in April 2014.
Fighter jets from the Netherlands intercepted two Russian bombers in Dutch airspace in April 2014.
Ministry of Defense
A Russian Air Force flight demonstration team performs with their Su-27 jet fighters over St. Petersburg, Russia. An Su-27 "showed its belly" to a U.S. reconnaissance jet in April 2014.
A Russian Air Force flight demonstration team performs with their Su-27 jet fighters over St. Petersburg, Russia. An Su-27 "showed its belly" to a U.S. reconnaissance jet in April 2014.
ALEXANDER KULIKOV/AFP/Getty Images
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, top, escorts a Russian Air Force Tu-95 bomber off the coast of Alaska in 2011.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, top, escorts a Russian Air Force Tu-95 bomber off the coast of Alaska in 2011.
USAF
UK Royal Air Force Typhoons, similar to this one seen in 2014, scrambled to intercept Russian bombers flying near British airspace, the British Defence Ministry said. It is one of the latest incidents in what NATO has said is an increase in Russian military flights near alliance members' territory.
UK Royal Air Force Typhoons, similar to this one seen in 2014, scrambled to intercept Russian bombers flying near British airspace, the British Defence Ministry said. It is one of the latest incidents in what NATO has said is an increase in Russian military flights near alliance members' territory.
Stephen Pond/Getty Images/File
UK Royal Air Force Typhoons, similar to this one seen in 2014, scrambled to intercept Russian bombers flying near British airspace, the British Defence Ministry said. It is one of the latest incidents in what NATO has said is an increase in Russian military flights near alliance members' territory.
UK Royal Air Force Typhoons, similar to this one seen in 2014, scrambled to intercept Russian bombers flying near British airspace, the British Defence Ministry said. It is one of the latest incidents in what NATO has said is an increase in Russian military flights near alliance members' territory.
Stephen Pond/Getty Images/File
Close encounters in the sky
CNN  — 

The UK Royal Air Force on Tuesday scrambled Typhoon jets to intercept Russian bombers flying near British airspace, the British Defence Ministry said.

Further details about the incident weren’t immediately available. It is one of the latest incidents in what NATO has said is an increase in Russian military flights near alliance members’ territory.

In November, NATO said its members’ jets had been scrambled more than 400 times in 2014 to intercept Russian military flights close to members’ territories – a 50% increase over the previous year. The increase harks back to the days of the Cold War, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said November 20 during a visit to NATO member Estonia.

“This pattern is risky and unjustified,” Stoltenberg said. “So NATO remains vigilant. We are here. And we are ready to defend all allies against any threat.”

In a November report, the European Leadership Network listed more than 40 “close military encounters between Russia and the West” in the eight months from March to October.

Three of those – including a near collision between a Russian military plane and a Swedish passenger aircraft carrying 132 people – were classified as “high-risk” incidents that could have led to direct military confrontation between Russia and the West, according to the report, titled “Dangerous Brinksmanship.”

Russia’s relationship with the West has suffered a huge blow because of Moscow’s involvement in the crisis in Ukraine.

UK jets intercepted more than 100 Russian aircraft last year, according to the British Defence Ministry.

U.S. to file complaint over ‘unsafe’ intercept by Russian fighter jet

NATO intercepts Russian military aircraft near Latvian airspace

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Updated 5:19 PM EDT, Tue April 14, 2015
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A Russian Bear aircraft is escorted by a Royal Air Force Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon during an intercept in September 2014. Royal Air Force aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth launched the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) for the first time since the Moray base took on the role of defending the UK's Northern airspace. Typhoon jets were scrambled to identify aircraft in international airspace. The aircraft, identified as Russian military 'Bears', did not enter UK airspace.
Russian military activity worries NORAD
01:03 - Source: CNN