RAF Scrambled To Investigate Russian Aircraft For Second Time This Week

Watch: a Typhoon takes off to respond to the Be-12. (Pictures: Crown Copyright).

RAF fighter jets have scrambled to investigate a Russian aircraft for the second time in a week.

Typhoons launched from the Romanian Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base to respond to a Russian Be-12 heading over the Black Sea from Crimea.

On Tuesday, two Typhoons were scrambled in response to two Russian aircraft flying over the same region.

There was also an incident last week where RAF Typhoons responded to six Russian bombers flying close to NATO airspace.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "Our commitment to NATO and European security is unwavering.

"Whether in the skies over the Black Sea and the Baltic, or on the ground in Estonia our actions send a clear message – we are collectively ready to respond to any act of aggression and will support our Eastern European allies to deter any threats faced."

1 (Fighter) Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth, is deployed to Romania as part of the NATO ‘Enhanced Air Policing’ mission, where assistance is provided to the Romanian Air Force’s own fleet of fast-jet aircraft.

A Typhoon pilot from 1 (Fighter) Squadron, attached to 135 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) and on Quick Reaction Alert duty when the scramble was called said:

"We launched in response to a Russian Be-12 aircraft that was manoeuvring over the Black Sea.

"It is exactly what the RAF has been brought to Romania to do and it felt great to have been able to contribute towards the mission."