RAF scrambles three fighter jets over the UK as part of an emergency NATO operation

The RAF has scrambled three fighter jets on Thursday over the UK over a possible “Quick Reaction Alert” (QRA).

A Voyager KC2 which performs air-to-air refueling has been tracked leaving RAF Brize Norton which has transmitted a 1321 code which means it could either be a NATO  air policing operation or a “QRA.”

A RAF E-3 Sentry plane commonly known as an Airborne Warning and Control System or AWAC is also flying over Scotland.

On Wednesday the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that “at least three” “Russian bombers” were heading to the UK.

The RAF have scrambled Typhoon fighter jets as the Russian bombers are approaching the UK’s area of interest.

An RAF spokesperson said, “Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighters from RAF Lossiemouth, supported by a Voyager Tanker from RAF Brize Norton, have been launched against aircraft approaching the UK area of interest.

“We will not be offering any additional detail on this ongoing operation until complete.”

Два стратегических ракетоносца Ту-95МС дальней авиации ВКС России выполнили плановый полет над нейтральными водами Баренцева, Норвежского морей и северо-восточной части Атлантического океана https://t.co/JPmJJ9g63i#Минобороны #АрмияРоссии #ВКС #Летчики #Полеты pic.twitter.com/LEiVPLEWX3

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) February 3, 2022

James Cleverly who is a Foreign Minister warned Moscow must understand it does not need to be militarily aggressive or provocative.

Cleverly was asked about the aircraft incident, he said he wouldn’t go into details but did draw parallels with tensions on the border of Ukraine and Russia.

В Амурской области проведены плановые полёты стратегических ракетоносцев Ту-95МС https://t.co/jgfQABcwL1#Минобороны #АрмияРоссии #ВКС #Летчики #Ту95МС pic.twitter.com/JxvVLAPzIV

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) February 2, 2022

Cleverly told Sky News, “I can’t work out what Russia hopes to achieve by this series of quite provocative, or indeed very provocative, actions.

“We need them to understand that they can be an important significant player on the world stage without the kind of military aggression that we’re seeing.

“We have made it absolutely clear that whether it is our own airspace, whether it is the territorial integrity of our NATO allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder.”