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RAF fighter jets scrambled
18/07/2007 17:01 - (SA)
London - Royal Air Force fighter jets were scrambled when two Russian bombers were intercepted off the coast of Norway, the defence ministry said on Wednesday, after reports they were heading for British airspace.
Two RAF Tornados from Britain's rapid reaction force took off from RAF base Leeming in northern England on Tuesday after two Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16s intercepted two Tu95 "Bear" bombers, it said.
A defence ministry spokesperson, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity, said: "We did scramble the jets but they did not intercept the Russians.
"As I understand it, the Norwegians actually intercepted the Russian aircraft off their coast. They didn't come into British airspace." Britain and Norway are separated by the North Sea.
He said there was no connection between the rare incident and Britain's plans to deport four Russian diplomats because of Moscow's refusal to extradite a key suspect for the murder of outspoken dissident Alexander Litvinenko.
Russia has promised a "targeted and appropriate" response to Britain's decision.
'Pure speculation'
The Times on Tuesday also said there was nothing to suggest a connection with the diplomatic stand-off, but it smacked of "old-fashioned sabre-rattling" by Russia and revived "the spirit of the Cold War" in the North Atlantic.
"Any link between that activity and what's happening in London just now is pure speculation," said the spokesperson.
Russia, which runs regular aircraft patrols from a base near the northern port city of Murmansk in the Arctic Circle, was equally firm in denying any connection.
Air force colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky was quoted by the news agency Interfax as saying: "Claims that Russian bombers were headed for British airspace don't correspond with reality.
"Long-distance planes were making planned flights over international waters. These kind of flights have been and are carried out to train long-distance flight crews."
'Not shows of force'
Air force general-colonel Alexander Zelin told Interfax that long-distance planes hold regular flight exercises, including bomb and rocket launches.
But he added: "We plan our bomber flights in international airspace according to our military preparation programme at least six months in advance. And we warn the relevant countries in advance.
"These aren't shows of force or sabre-rattling, but planned military preparations. What's more, we make timely applications to use international air corridors."
- AFP
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