British, Dutch, And Danish Fighters Scramble To Confront Russian Bombers (Updated)

Air incident: An RAF Typhoon was scrambled after a TU-95 flew near UK airspace. © MOD/Crown Copyright

RAF Fighter Jet Scrambled As Russian Bombers Approach Scottish Coast -- STV News

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that a RAF fighter jet was scrambled from a Scottish RAF base after a Russian bomber was detected in UK airspace.

A Typhoon fast attack jet was sent to investigate after radar operators detected two "unknown and unidentified" aircraft near the north of Scotland.

A spokesman for the MoD said: "The aircraft were identified as Russian but they did not enter UK sovereign airspace."

Read more ....

Update #1: RAF Jet Chases Russian Planes Away From UK -- SKY News
Update #2: Dutch Scramble Jets After Russian Bombers Approach -- AP

My Comment: The Europeans are not the only ones who are now confronting Russian bombers .... Japan scrambles fighters against Russian bombers for 6 days in row -- Global Post/AFP

British, Dutch, And Danish Fighters Scramble To Confront Russian Bombers (Updated)

RAF fighter jets scrambled to investigate Russian planes -- BBC
Russian Bombers North of Scotland Draw Attention of British -- WSJ
Russian aircraft chased away from British airspace -- UPI
UK says scrambles jets to see off Russian planes near Scotland -- Reuters
RAF sees off Russian ‘Bears’ as fears rise over Ukraine -- Scottish Express
RAF Typhoons scrambled to Russian bombers -- The Telegraph
Russian bombers buzz U.K. airspace; jets scrambled to chase off ‘Bears’ -- Washington Times
RAF fighter jets intercept Russian bombers off coast of Scotland -- The Guardian
RAF Typhoon scrambled after two Russian planes stray into UK airspace today -- Daily Mail
NATO states lead Russia jets out of North Sea space -- Press TV (Iran)
NATO States Scramble Jets After Russian Bombers Approach -- Radio Free Europe
Incidents over the North Sea: Russian long-range bombers to test NATO air defense -- National Turk
Dutch fighter jets intercept 2 Russian bombers in their airspace -- CNN

My Comment: As to this being a normal thing .... yes ... it has happened before. But this is the first time since the Cold War that two bombers were used, and there were also Russian naval assets in the area .... something that has also not happened since the Cold War.

Update: I love the Russian explanation for this .... cough, cough .... "exercise" .... Russian Bombers Conduct Test Flights Over Northern Europe -- RIA Novosti