Hakan
RETIRED INTL MOD
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Two Russian bombers which flew close to UK airspace have been chased away by an RAF jet fighter.
The aircraft, believed to be Tupolev 95s, were spotted off the coast of northeast Scotland.
They were turned away from Britain when an RAF Typhoon was scrambled from Leuchars airbase, near Dundee.
Crews stationed there are on standby to intercept unidentified aircraft at a moment's notice.
The incident comes amid heightened international tensions over the situation in Ukraine, following the annexation of Crimea by Russia last month.
Sky's Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said foreign planes often fly close to UK airspace, with eight similar incidents reported in 2013.
"The RAF Typhoon is one of Britain's quick reaction aircraft and would have gone up, made contact with the Russian planes and ensured they did not plan to fly into British airspace," he said.
"These sorts of events happen quite regularly and that maybe surprising for some people.
"It's all about testing defences and seeing exactly what your 'enemy' is capable of."
The two Russian planes were escorted by the Typhoon, as well as military aircraft from the Netherlands and Denmark, until they flew off towards Scandinavia.
Also known as 'Bears', the aircraft - turboprop-powered bombers which also conduct airborne surveillance - have been used for more than 50 years.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace at all times and they are perfectly entitled to do so.
"Russian military flights have never entered UK sovereign airspace without authorisation."
RAF Jet Chases Russian Planes Away From UK
. nothing alarming.
