RAF intercepted Russian jets to defend Nato airspace

Telegraph

20-04-2025

RAF fighter jets were scrambled twice in less than 48 hours to defend Nato airspace from Russian warplanes, The Telegraph can reveal.
British Typhoons were called into action on two separate occasions this week after Kremlin aircraft flew too close to Nato's border, sparking an alert.
The interventions came as Donald Trump appeared to lose patience with Vladimir Putin and threatened to pull out of talks on a Ukraine peace deal.
They will be used by No 10 as further evidence of the growing Russian threat as it tries to persuade the US not to scale back its presence in Europe.
It is the first time that the air force has been called into action under Operation Chessman, a new Nato mission to bolster Europe's air defences.
Ministers said the latest stand-off in the skies showed how Russia was growing increasingly aggressive in its testing of the Western military alliance.
On Tuesday two Typhoons stationed at Malbork Air Base, in Poland, were scrambled to intercept a Russian spy plane over the Baltic Sea.
Less than 48 hours later another pair had to be sent up to deter an unknown aircraft leaving the exclave of Kaliningrad, between Poland and Lithuania.
Luke Pollard, the Armed Forces Minister, told The Telegraph: 'The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to Nato.
'With Russian aggression growing and security threats on the rise, we are stepping up to reassure our allies, deter adversaries and protect our national security through our plan for change.
'This mission shows our ability to operate side by side with Nato's newest member Sweden and to defend the alliance's airspace wherever and whenever needed, keeping us safe at home and strong abroad.'
The planes, part of a six-strong fleet, were only posted to Poland three weeks ago as part of a joint defence operation with the Swedish air force.
They are usually stationed at RAF Lossiemouth, in Scotland, and have been accompanied on the mission by almost 200 UK military personnel.
When the planes were deployed, Wing Commander Christopher Jacob said they would 'defend and deter, standing ready to protect against any threat'.
Russia has become increasingly aggressive in its probing of Nato countries' air defences since its invasion of Ukraine began three years ago.
Two jets from Lossiemouth had to be scrambled in November to intercept a Russian bomber over the North Sea which was approaching UK airspace.
Then in February the Norwegian Air Force sent up F-35 jets to intercept two Kremlin bombers and their fighter escorts in the Arctic Circle.
European nations are scrambling to bolster their own air defence after Mr Trump signalled a weakening of US military support for the continent.
The latest Russian incursions come with the White House and the Kremlin still locked in talks over a potential ceasefire and Ukraine peace deal.
Mr Trump said earlier this week that he was considering pulling out of the negotiations, suggesting that he was losing patience with Moscow's approach.
Putin last month rejected a US proposed ceasefire, which was accepted by Kyiv, and has since then continued to bomb Ukrainian civilians.
On Saturday Putin announced that he had ordered Russian troops to respect a 30-hour pause in the fighting in Ukraine, dubbed an ' Easter truce '.
Britain and other European and Western nations have formed a ' coalition of the willing ' to station peacekeepers to Ukraine should a deal be struck.
Under the agreement troops from the UK and fellow allies would be stationed in Ukraine to deter Russia from attempting to reinvade the country.
Sir Keir Starmer is trying to persuade the US to provide a 'backstop' to the plan, meaning that it would intervene in the event of a further Russian attack.