An ongoing QRA operation involving the UK, France and Denmark has been launched as Russian bombers fly over the North Sea.

This comes not long after an incident last week in which Typhoon fighter aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth, with an RAF Voyager from Brize Norton, to monitor two Russian Blackjacks over the North Sea.

The RAF said last time that they worked closely with NATO partners to monitor the Russian aircraft as they passed through a variety of international airspace before they were intercepted over the North Sea, which appears to be happening again today.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“Our brave RAF pilots have shown again that we are ready to respond to any threat to the UK. Alongside our NATO allies, we must remain vigilant and aware of Russian military activity.”

The RAF routinely identify, intercept and escort Russian aircraft that transit international airspace within proximity to the UK’s area of interest and continue to be on call every day.

This is the third time in as many weeks that RAF aircraft have taken to the air to investigate Russian activity over the North Sea, it is important to note that the aircraft expressed no intention to enter UK airspace at any point.

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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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captain P Wash
captain P Wash
4 years ago

Nobody mention Sweets.

T.S
4 years ago
Reply to  captain P Wash

It’s all about goats today

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  T.S

LOL!

captain P Wash
captain P Wash
4 years ago
Reply to  T.S

Yup, 4 legs very Hairy with a vicious Head Butt, nice in a curry though.

maurice10
maurice10
4 years ago
Reply to  captain P Wash

Hairy goats apart, just read the US Army Europe are currently painting all land equipment in a Woodland pattern in preparation for the possibility of conflict in the region. All this ‘fly by’ activity might be raising the stakes in the Pentagon? Is the Brexit row screening some worrying developments?

andy reeves
andy reeves
4 years ago
Reply to  captain P Wash

best head butt dion dublin for villa on robbie savage

keithdwat
keithdwat
4 years ago
Reply to  captain P Wash

I like Cadburys fruit and nut flavour!

andy reeves
andy reeves
4 years ago
Reply to  keithdwat

they should be planting trees not hiding in them

andy reeves
andy reeves
4 years ago
Reply to  captain P Wash

bournville plain, orange and peppermint aero’s

MattW
MattW
4 years ago

I do like the White Swan, its a cool looking aircraft 🙂

(see no mention of sweets)

captain P Wash
captain P Wash
4 years ago
Reply to  MattW

Ha, It’s more of an Animal Day today !!!!

Goats and Swans.

MattW
MattW
4 years ago
Reply to  MattW

@RGR Yes I know, I was around when Blackjacks, Pacers etc were the norm (kinda miss pacers if im honest and the modern blackjacks just dont taste the same.

White Swan is the Soviet airman’s name for the aircraft.

Angelsonefivephilip
Angelsonefivephilip
4 years ago
Reply to  MattW

It’s right what you say; my blackjacks were 4 for 1d in the late 50’s & 60’s. I tried one or two modern ones only a few weeks ago and they were a very pale imitation of the taste I recall. My uncle worked at Barratts in London and my sister & I were spoilt for sweets.?

captain P Wash
captain P Wash
4 years ago

There will be a Bear along in a while !

Riga
Riga
4 years ago
Reply to  captain P Wash

The very strong wind might blow them away.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  captain P Wash

or a Bison!

captain P Wash
captain P Wash
4 years ago

Bison Curry sounds Interesting probably a bit like Yak !

captain P Wash
captain P Wash
4 years ago
Reply to  captain P Wash

You talk Bullocks.

Captain P Wash
Captain P Wash
4 years ago
Reply to  captain P Wash

Groan !

julian1
julian1
4 years ago

Onto track, and QRA, ix(B) squadron supposedly stood up last week (or at least officially switched to Typhoon.) Do we have any news, articles or heresay?

What was the bag of sherbert powder which came with a small lemon lollypop?

Captain P Wash
Captain P Wash
4 years ago
Reply to  julian1

Dib Dab.

Captain P Wash
Captain P Wash
4 years ago
Reply to  julian1

According to Wiki, 4 Tranche 1 Typhoons have taken over the role provided by the previous Tornado’s.

Sherbet Fountains were OK but I preferred Did Dabs because of the Lolly.

Captain P Wash
Captain P Wash
4 years ago
Reply to  Captain P Wash

Nope. Chewy was on Star Wars.

( Head down, searching for In Coming )!

Captain P Wash
Captain P Wash
4 years ago
Reply to  Captain P Wash

Now You’re Talking. I love Galaxy .

keithdwat
keithdwat
4 years ago
Reply to  Captain P Wash

Cap,
As stated above Im more of a cadburys fan but I could go for a galaxy easily. Toffee Crisp is another favourite.

LongTime
LongTime
4 years ago
Reply to  Captain P Wash

Mmmm Galaxy? Can I propose that the next Russian bomber gets the NATO name ‘DAVE’ just so we get to regularly see ‘QRA typhoons have intercepted another Dave today’ and preferably read on the news with a cockney twang

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  julian1

Saw a tweet from CAS to that affect, yes Julian1.

A bit of an artificial move to keep squadron numbers falling to 6, which is of course a good move.

Some aircraft to go with it to replace GR4 would be a better move!

julian1
julian1
4 years ago

whilst overall fleet numbers are reduced, those aircraft are at much higher states of readiness and availability which is something I guess. with Dambusters, this leaves us with 7 operational squadrons (not including 12(B) which would bring us to 8.)

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  julian1

Yes, 8 Squadrons.

I assume that 12B will become a full UK operational squadron once the Qatari’s are trained.

As before, when it was 5 Typhoon, 3 Tornado,
now 7 Typhoon, 1 Lightning.

Long term I expect, hope, for 5 Typhoon 4 Lightning.

Much higher readiness, yes I read of that too, and the new agreement with BAES.

Also means less of everything is worked harder and worn out sooner in a constantly diminishing fleet.

Oh well, highly capable at least.

spyinthesky
spyinthesky
4 years ago

Seriously do the Russians really expect an attempt at disguising this as a BBC bomber to fool anyone.

Julian1
Julian1
4 years ago
Reply to  spyinthesky

Subtle but funny, next you’ll see “fake news”