U.K., Norway Send Jets to Intercept Russian Aircraft (Update2)
Four U.K. Royal Air Force Tornado jets were launched to intercept eight Russian strategic bombers, the British Ministry of Defence said. Two aircraft from the Norwegian air force also trailed Russia's planes.
The RAF Tornado F3 jet fighters were scrambled early today to intercept the Soviet-era Russian bombers ``which had not entered U.K. airspace,'' the ministry said in an e-mailed statement. The ministry didn't elaborate on how close the RAF aircraft got to the Russian planes.
Jon Inge Oegland, a Royal Norwegian Air Force Wing Commander based at Stavanger, said in a telephone interview the Russian aircraft ``flew in early today at six in the morning and were met by two Norwegian fighter planes, who trailed them for a while.'' He didn't specify exactly where the Russian bombers were.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 17 ordered the resumption of regular flights by strategic bombers, which were halted in 1992 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. The same day, Royal Air Force fighter jets were sent to shadow two Russian bombers heading toward British air space over the north Atlantic.
Russian Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky told the Interfax news agency today that ``about 20 NATO fighter jets, including F-16s and Tornados, were scrambled into the air to accompany our strategic bombers, but there were no incidents.''
`International Rules'
The Russian Ministry of Defense said today the aircraft were conducting a routine exercise and all flights were carried out ``in accordance with international rules.'' Some ``14 Tu-95 MS aircraft yesterday evening started planned air patrols,'' over the waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Northern Arctic Oceans, the ministry said in an e-mailed statement.
Oegland downplayed the event. ``It wasn't dramatic,'' he said. ``We wouldn't call it alarming.''
Revenue from high natural energy prices is helping Russia reassert its global position and military power, with new defense spending including upgrades to its air force and the expansion of its navy. It has protested U.S. plans to deploy an anti-missile defense system in eastern Europe.
``The aircraft are flying over neutral waters, not coming close to the airspace of foreign states. Six Tu-95 MS aircraft have already landed at their bases, eight are still in the air,'' the Russian ministry said.
``Almost all are accompanied by NATO fighter jets.'' ***
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By: Robin Stringer and Sebastian Alison
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com
To contact the reporters on this story: Robin Stringer in London at rstringer@bloomberg.net ; Sebastian Alison in Moscow at Salison1@bloomberg.net .
Four U.K. Royal Air Force Tornado jets were launched to intercept eight Russian strategic bombers, the British Ministry of Defence said. Two aircraft from the Norwegian air force also trailed Russia's planes.
The RAF Tornado F3 jet fighters were scrambled early today to intercept the Soviet-era Russian bombers ``which had not entered U.K. airspace,'' the ministry said in an e-mailed statement. The ministry didn't elaborate on how close the RAF aircraft got to the Russian planes.
Jon Inge Oegland, a Royal Norwegian Air Force Wing Commander based at Stavanger, said in a telephone interview the Russian aircraft ``flew in early today at six in the morning and were met by two Norwegian fighter planes, who trailed them for a while.'' He didn't specify exactly where the Russian bombers were.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 17 ordered the resumption of regular flights by strategic bombers, which were halted in 1992 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. The same day, Royal Air Force fighter jets were sent to shadow two Russian bombers heading toward British air space over the north Atlantic.
Russian Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky told the Interfax news agency today that ``about 20 NATO fighter jets, including F-16s and Tornados, were scrambled into the air to accompany our strategic bombers, but there were no incidents.''
`International Rules'
The Russian Ministry of Defense said today the aircraft were conducting a routine exercise and all flights were carried out ``in accordance with international rules.'' Some ``14 Tu-95 MS aircraft yesterday evening started planned air patrols,'' over the waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Northern Arctic Oceans, the ministry said in an e-mailed statement.
Oegland downplayed the event. ``It wasn't dramatic,'' he said. ``We wouldn't call it alarming.''
Revenue from high natural energy prices is helping Russia reassert its global position and military power, with new defense spending including upgrades to its air force and the expansion of its navy. It has protested U.S. plans to deploy an anti-missile defense system in eastern Europe.
``The aircraft are flying over neutral waters, not coming close to the airspace of foreign states. Six Tu-95 MS aircraft have already landed at their bases, eight are still in the air,'' the Russian ministry said.
``Almost all are accompanied by NATO fighter jets.'' ***
-------------------------------------------------------
By: Robin Stringer and Sebastian Alison
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com
To contact the reporters on this story: Robin Stringer in London at rstringer@bloomberg.net ; Sebastian Alison in Moscow at Salison1@bloomberg.net .
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