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RAF QRA aircraft scramble to intercept Russians 15 January 2018
Another day at the office for the QRA folks.
RAF fighter jets scrambled 'to intercept Russian planes heading for UK', Ministry of Defence confirms Francesca Gillett The Evening Standard RAF fighter jets have taken off from Scotland to intercept Russian jets approaching UK airspace. The Ministry of Defence confirmed to the Standard that Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth were scrambled on Monday morning. The MoD added it is a “live operation” and will not comment further until the mission is complete. Voyager refuelling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton [looks like ZZ334 with callsign MAD 715 is one - Airbubba] is also supporting the Typhoons. A spokesman for the RAF said: “We can confirm that quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth scrambled this morning. “This is a live operation and therefore we will not be providing any additional information until the mission is complete." The MoD said it could not confirm how many RAF aircraft had been sent because of operation security reasons. RAF Lossiemouth in north east Scotland is primarily used as a base for Quick Reaction Alert, where pilots are on duty 24 hours a day and ready at a moment's notice. The incident on Monday follows a string of stand-offs in recent months between the RAF and Russian Air Force. In December, two Typhoon planes armed with missiles intercepted the Prime Minister's plane on its way home from Cyprus as part of a training exercise. In September last year, two RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to monitor a pair of Russian military planes flying towards UK airspace while in July two jets based in Romania were sent to Russian aircraft near NATO airspace in the Black Sea. In January 2017 Typhoons also monitored a Russian aircraft carrier as it sailed through UK waters. Typhoons are combat aircraft used in air policing and high-intensity conflict. They are often scrambled to police and intercept unidentified foreign planes illegally entering British airspace. RAF Lossiemouth in north east Scotland is primarily used as a base for Quick Reaction Alert, where pilots are on duty 24 hours a day and ready at a moment's notice. |
Back in the bad old Cold War days, when the Berlin Wall still stood and I and my colleagues slept in caravans parked a 20 yard sprint from three combat ready Vulcans, scrambling RAF fighters to intercept Russian aircraft was not a newsworthy item. The fact that it hits the news today is a welcome change.
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If they got to Q10+ the press would have a meltdown screaming we're all doomed
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It's all newsworthy when people are talking about cuts................
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British airspace...? British waters...?
Utter tripe. Nothing to see here. |
Originally Posted by Wyler
(Post 10020474)
British airspace...? British waters...?
Utter tripe. Nothing to see here. |
Originally Posted by Wyler
(Post 10020474)
British airspace...? British waters...?
Utter tripe. Nothing to see here. "And ladies and gents, if you look left now, you can see the grey funnel liner surging up the North Sea coast in intercept..." :ok: |
From the MoD:
News story UK fighter jets intercept Russian bombers approaching UK airspace RAF Typhoons have scrambled over the North Sea to intercept Russian Blackjack bombers Published 15 January 2018 From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP One of the Russian Blackjack Tupolev Tu-160 long-range bombers, which were escorted out of the UK's area of interest. Today (Mon 15 January), RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth to monitor two Russian planes approaching UK airspace. The Russian Blackjack Tupolev Tu-160 long-range bombers were not talking to air traffic control, making them a hazard to all other aviation. The RAF worked closely with NATO partners to monitor the jets as they passed through a variety of international airspace, before they were intercepted by the RAF in the North Sea. Subsequently, our fighters escorted the Russian Blackjacks north, out of the UK’s area of interest. At no time did the Russian bombers enter UK sovereign airspace. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: The threats this country faces are intensifying and we will not hesitate in defending our skies from acts of aggression. Our excellent RAF tracked the Russian aircraft every step of the way, and they continue to police UK and international airspace every hour of every day, to help keep the British people safe. RAF QRA was launched today because the Russian Military aircraft were not talking to air traffic agencies. The RAF routinely intercept, identify and escort Russian aircraft that transit international airspace within the UK’s area of interest and continue to be on call; 24/7, 365. |
An ignorant question: if a couple of fighters leave Lossie at no notice and fly out over the North Sea as fast as they need to to perform the interception, can a Voyager really get to them from Brize before they run low on fuel? What if the Tu160 is flying at Mach 2?
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can a Voyager really get to them from Brize before they run low on fuel? What if the Tu160 is flying at Mach 2? |
Unless things have changed drastically over the years. In the 70/80s we did 300/400 hundred intercepts a year, and if the they wanted to test us they would launch a stream of 30-40 over many hours to both the North Sea, West Coast and GIUK gap and we would get up with up to Q20 launched from LU, CY and WT and multiple tankers landing, refuelling and launching to support from both LU and LM.
P+120: TU-160 crosses 15E heading SW, P-Time for UKADR just over 2 hours, QRA alerted in time to have prep and have dinner. Tanker ordered to RS60. P+60: P-60 QRA launches to meet at edge of UKADR. Tanker ordered off. P time: QRA intercepts at UKADR edge and escorts south. Tanker airborne. P+40: Q2 launches to join tanker on intercept course to join intercept. P+60: Q2 takes over shadow whilst Q1 tanks. Then each TU-160 gets an individual escort. Meanwhile Danish/USAF/GAF etc QRA also join in and everyone takes lots of photos of each other and details of where to send them...... |
Thanks. I'd missed the point that the Russians would be known about long before they became of interest, so the fighters would not actually launch with no notice.
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Local media in Ireland is reporting that a politician was angry the UK ‘had not informed Irish civil aviation authorities that they had unleashed their Typhoons’ into air space near Ireland.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/iris...ers-off-coast/ :p |
Local media in Ireland is reporting that a politician was angry the UK ‘had not informed Irish civil aviation authorities that they had unleashed their Typhoons’ into air space near Ireland. I also had an occasion in the North Sea controlling the QRA behind a Bear on a collision course with a DC10 at the same height. I rang the LATCC controller and told him and advised him to get the DC10 to climb a 1000ft. “Who’s controlling it!”, he demanded indignantly. “Not sure”, replied I, “but you might try Moscow Military”. He got the DC10 to climb 1000ft... |
RAF does its job.....
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ORAC, I remember one maxi effort when T* trooper from Cyprus had give away and was diverted to top up the Victors.
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Here's a thought, if Mr Corbyn becomes the great Leader, given his resume, would he see the merits of continuing to have Fighters in sufficient numbers to intercept Russian aircraft? Or will he regard such a response as unnecessarily provocative?:confused:
FB:) |
Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
(Post 10020809)
ORAC, I remember one maxi effort when T* trooper from Cyprus had give away and was diverted to top up the Victors.
This might have been a TriStar trail back to UK from Cyprus? A typical Tristar trail from Cyprus would arrive back at Brize OH with about 20T instantaneous, although it could be upto about 40T in unusual circumstances. Whereas, although a Trooper might be a TriStar K/KC airframe, the Trooper would arrive at Brize with only about 8T div fuel available and, the crew would also be unlikely to all be tanker qualified. :rolleyes: OAP |
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: The threats this country faces are intensifying In the 70/80s we did 300/400 hundred intercepts a year 2007 19 2008 11 2009 11 2010 7 2011 10 2012 9 2013 8 2014 8 2015 8 2016 5 Jan-Oct 2017: 3 |
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