India Four Two,
See following.
UK Flight Information Region
Supplementary memorandum from the Ministry of Defence
1a. How many times have Russian military aircraft attempted to enter UK territorial airspace in 2007, 2008 and 2009, without authorisation?
ANSWER
— Nil.
No Russian military aircraft have attempted to enter UK territorial airspace, which extends 12 nautical miles from the UK coastline.
Russian military aircraft operate in international airspace and have every right to exercise their defence capabilities.
1b. How many times have Russian military aircraft attempted to enter the UK flight information region in 2007, 2008 and 2009, without authorisation?
ANSWER
— Russian military aircraft entered the UK Flight Information Region on 10 separate days in 2007.
— Russian military aircraft entered the UK Flight Information Region on six separate days in 2008.
— Russian military aircraft entered the UK Flight Information Region on two separate days in 2009 (correct as of 1 May).
The UK Flight Information Region, outside of 12 nautical miles from the UK coastline, remains international airspace
but to transit the area aircraft are required to file flight plans, communicate with Air Traffic Control and utilise secondary surveillance radar (SSR),
a means for providing information on the air traffic control agency and height. Russian military aircraft do not adhere to these accepted
Air Traffic Control requirements.
This is against International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations for which Russia is a signatory state and poses
a potential flight safety risk. We are taking this issue forward with Department for Transport,
who through the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Air Traffic Services contract provide Air Traffic Control services.
The UK Flight Information Region (see map below) contains some of the busiest airspace in Europe including the transatlantic air route structure.
Within the UK Flight Information Region, Air Traffic Control operations rely largely on SSR to maintain safe distances
between aircraft operating in close proximity. Aircraft not transponding SSR can therefore be invisible to
Air Traffic Control operators. Risks to flight safety are mitigated by close liaison between UK Air Defence and Air Traffic Control units.
Air Defence units use a combination of primary radar and SSR and are able to detect such aircraft within Air Defence radar coverage.
The launch of UK Quick Reaction Alert aircraft to intercept unidentified aircraft also mitigates the flight safety risk.
House of Commons - Defence Committee - Written Evidence
47. The UK press have featured stories that imply that Russia's air tactics are a threat to UK security.
[76] We sought information from the MoD to clarify the scale and nature of the issue of military incursions into NATO and UK airspace.
We were told that during 2007-2009 no Russian aircraft have entered UK airspace—defined as 12 nautical miles from the UK coastline—without authorisation.
However, Russian military aircraft have entered the UK Flight Information Region—outside UK territorial airspace—without permission.
This is part of international airspace and, as such, Russia is able to exercise its defence capabilities there.
House of Commons - Russia: a new confrontation? - Defence Committee
The latest figures on Russian long-range bombers over the North Sea were released by the Ministry of Defence under Freedom of Information laws.
On each of the 47 occasions since 2008, the Russians entered the Scottish Flight Information Region but turned back before they reached the UK's 12 mile sovereign airspace.
There have also been nine approved visits where Russian aircraft were flown directly over Scotland, including refuelling stops.
SNP pledge Scottish air force as Russian deterrent | UK | News | Daily Express