🚨 Quick Reaction Alert Typhoons were scrambled today from their temporary base at Leuchars Station in Fife.
✈️ This was in response to Russian military aircraft operating in international airspace, but within @NATO's Air Policing Area.
Here's what you need to know 👇
1/#QRA
🎯 Unidentified aircraft were tracked as they entered the northern @NATO Air Policing Area.
✈️ This was monitored by the Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany.
⏳ In the UK, Control & Reporting Centres at @RAFBoulmer & @RAFScampton prepared to scramble...
2/#QRA
🚨 @Luftforsvaret, the Royal Norwegian Air Force, scrambled their Quick Reaction Alert F-16s to intercept and identify these aircraft.
🔍 They were visually identified as two Russian Tu-160 Blackjacks - long-range, supersonic bombers.
3/#QRA
✈️ The Russian Tu-160 Blackjacks continued to fly south towards UK airspace, and so #TeamLossie QRA Typhoons operating out of Leuchars Station in Fife were scrambled.
🚧 QRA has moved temporarily while resurfacing continues on the runway intersection at RAF Lossiemouth.
4/#QRA
⛽️ A Voyager tanker from @RAFBrizeNorton was also scrambled. It happened to be ZZ336, known as Vespina, which features the distinctive Union Jack livery.
✈️ This aircraft is used for VIP transport, but it can conduct air-to-air refuelling too - as demonstrated today!
5/#QRA
✈️ As our Typhoons routed towards the Tu-160 Blackjacks, they turned north away from the UK.
💪 QRA Typhoons remained in the area to deter any further activity near UK airspace.
🚨 We always take every potential airborne threat to UK airspace very seriously.
6/#QRA
📡 Airborne surveillance was provided by an E-3A Sentry from the @E3AComponent out of Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany.
👁🗨 It was re-tasked to use the powerful radar fixed onto the fuselage to monitor the Russian military activity within @NATO's area of interest.
7/#QRA
🌍 The incident has now concluded and all aircraft are ready for their next scramble.
☑️ It was a successful mission for all involved, both within the @RoyalAirForce and within the @NATO alliance.
💪 We are always ready in our enduring mission of #SecuringTheSkies.
8/#QRA
As always, ask us anything about #QRA and #SecuringTheSkies!
Keep in mind that much of the operation is sensitive, so we won't answer everything...
👇❓👇❓👇❓👇
Clarification: this image of a Tu-160 is stock from a previous scramble and has been used for illustrative purposes.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.