In a show of heightened alert, RAF Typhoon fighters were dispatched toward a Russian Aerospace Force Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft operating in international airspace over the Norwegian Sea. This development was reported by TASS, citing sources within the UK Air Force press service. The alert came after the Tu-142 was detected near the perimeter of British airspace on April 30, prompting a quick scramble of interceptor aircraft.
The Typhoon crew, mobilized from the Lossiemouth Royal Air Force Base in Scotland, carried out a controlled interception to observe the Russian aircraft as it passed along the international waters near the United Kingdom. The UK press service emphasized that the Russian plane did not penetrate the sovereign airspace of the United Kingdom during the encounter.
As part of the broader NATO response, a Norwegian F-35A fighter joined the mission to monitor the Tu-142 from a separate vantage point, maintaining a clear line of sight and ensuring airspace safety for allied nations in the region.
Earlier reports indicated that the British Air Force had coordinated with a German interceptor to track the same Russian aircraft as it moved near Estonian airspace, underscoring the multinational effort to monitor and manage aviation activity close to allied borders. The sequence of events highlights the ongoing vigilance exercised by NATO allies and partner nations in safeguarding their air corridors while respecting territorial sovereignties.