PUTIN WANTS WAR: Nato jets from FOUR COUNTRIES intercept Russian nuclear planes off Europe
FEARS of a major confrontation between Vladimir Putin and the West were heightened after it was revealed Nato jets from four countries were scrambled to intercept Russian bombers scouting off Europe’s coast.
Royal Air Force jets joined aircraft from Norway, France and Spain to meet two Russian bombers – capable of carrying nuclear weapons – that had entered European airspace near Scotland last month.
The incident involving two TU-60 bombers – known by Nato as “blackjack” bombers – took place on September 22 but has only just come to light amid sky-high tensions.
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RAF jets meeting the TU-60 bomber in a separate incident in September
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Norwegian F-16 fighters were the first to meet the bombers to escort it out of European airspace after the Russian planes were detected heading toward Scotland.
British Typhoons were then deployed from RAF Lossiemouth to join the mission off the coast of Shetland.
As the bombers skirted the west coast of Ireland, French Rafale jets came into the fold.
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Finally, Spanish F-18 jets were deployed as the Russian warplanes headed toward Spanish airspace.
The TU-60s – capable of carrying up to 88,185 lb (40,000kg) of bombs – then returned home along the same route they had taken on their European sortie.
But the RAF said the pair had not violated British airspace.
There have been multiple scares involving Russian bombers coming dangerously close to European airspace.