The Royal Air Force will be on high alert in the coming days in order to intercept a flight from the Arctic region.

The aircraft is understood to have ‘good or bad’ intelligence gathering capabilities.

The move has been prompted by an incident around a year ago in which Typhoon aircraft escorted a Lapland registered aircraft (flying from the Arctic region) over the UK’s major cities, the pilot of the craft was said to be under the influence of alcohol and very “festive”, this is especially dangerous due to the sheer volume of cargo the aircraft was carrying.

This is expected to happen again towards the end of this month on the 24th through to the 25th.

MoD spokesman Christopher Cringle had this to say:

“Interception is part of what the QRA force do. We have to identify and confirm who or what is flying through our airspace or approaching our airspace and since the craft appears at the same time each year, we have a fairly good idea who will be flying but we don’t take any chances.”

The Ministry of Defence used satellites with infrared sensors to track the aircraft last time this happened, it is understood that the heat from an animals red nose was clearly visible and it was at this point RAF aircraft began escorting the jet over every British city, town and village.

More on this as it develops.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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andrew hutchinson
andrew hutchinson
8 years ago

maybe santa needs a bit more stealth technology…

Anonymous
Anonymous
8 years ago

The RAF are really going to need those additional airframes

David Flandry
David Flandry
4 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Not to worry. MoD has ordered 100 of the latest mark of the Sopwith Camel.

Andy Berry
8 years ago

lol

Kevin Collis
8 years ago

Joey

Andy Berry
8 years ago

never gets old this one 🙂

Russell Bushby
Russell Bushby
8 years ago
Reply to  Andy Berry

I heard that NORAD are tracking him. Don’t hold out any hope though. They have been trying since 1952

Rik Adams
8 years ago

You’ll never catch him.

Lee Hodgson
8 years ago

Is it Santa getting some practice in ?

Adam Williams
8 years ago

Amy Green

Nick Worthy
8 years ago

Shoot it down will save a fortune

Liberté Harries
Liberté Harries
4 years ago
Reply to  Nick Worthy

Oooh dear…somewhat mean that!!!

Adam Williams
8 years ago

Danni Bailey

Richard Willis
8 years ago

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Mike Reeve
8 years ago

Are there Russian markings on his sleigh?

Stephen Brown
8 years ago

🙂

Mike Wickham
8 years ago

And here’s me thinking what are the bloody Russian’s up to now haha

Michael Hynes
Michael Hynes
8 years ago

He won’t be so jolly with an AMRAAM up his backside!

Geoffrey Roach
Geoffrey Roach
8 years ago

keep those mince pies peeled!!

Jan-Arie
Jan-Arie
8 years ago

Nice photo but it would be nice if you would give the photographer proper credit.
And that isn’t a Typhoon scrambling to intercept but this photo was taken at the royal international air tattoo in fairford as a Defence Journal you should know that a interceptor doesn’t carry LGB’s under the wing for the occasion it was tooled up and flown by the BAe test pilot at the Airshow…
But lets not be nitpicking 🙂 and you all have a nice Christmas

Keith
Keith
8 years ago

Lol my first thought was Russians too then I thought hang aabout flying under the influence, Lapland and red noses sounds like he’d make a good prime minister.

Jed
Jed
8 years ago

Kinda reminds me a mission on PAYDAY 2

Ken Thorn
Ken Thorn
8 years ago

Bah humbug HO, HO, HO,

Steve Heath
Steve Heath
8 years ago

Early practice run…. had me going for a minute though…

Andy
Andy
7 years ago

“We have to identify and confirm who or what is flying through our airspace”
You should make a list, and check it. Twice.

Andy
Andy
7 years ago

It’s not so much the heat from the red nose on the radar I’m worried about as the waste material from the exhaust on my roof!!

Bruce
Bruce
4 years ago

Intercept by all means but on no account should it be shot down. Repurcusions throughout the world would be immeasurable

Hank Bemarvin
4 years ago

For full details of how Santa got like that listen to my FUNNY CHRISTMAS SONG…
Here is my funny Christmas song that I wrote at the beginning of November 2019…
Had some really good feedback about it.
It took 4 and a half hours to record in the studio and nearly 3 days to get the video right. Hope you enjoy it.
https://youtu.be/nAt_o1PDakM
If you like it, please click the LIKE button on both YouTube AND Facebook and share this post for me. Thanks.

Caza
Caza
4 years ago

Ho ho ho ??

Chris
Chris
4 years ago

Thank you for your service