You've asked a lot of questions about yesterday's Quick Reaction Alert scramble, the main one being "why did you scramble?".
Read this thread for everything you need to know 👇
#SecuringTheSkies
#QRA 1/7
Read this thread for everything you need to know 👇
#SecuringTheSkies
#QRA 1/7
Two Russian Tu-142 Bears were tracked as they approached the UK's area of interest.
While they didn't enter our sovereign airspace, their activities do have a considerable impact on other airspace users - namely civilian airliners.
#QRA 2/7
While they didn't enter our sovereign airspace, their activities do have a considerable impact on other airspace users - namely civilian airliners.
#QRA 2/7
This map shows their route (thanks @MIL_Radar!).
Two Russian aircraft were intercepted and shadowed: one Bear-F, which is an Anti Submarine Warfare platform, and one Bear-J, which is a communications relay platform.
They pose two potential problems:
#QRA 3/7
Two Russian aircraft were intercepted and shadowed: one Bear-F, which is an Anti Submarine Warfare platform, and one Bear-J, which is a communications relay platform.
They pose two potential problems:
#QRA 3/7
⚠️ These aircraft often don't talk to air traffic control, and may not be 'squawking' - broadcasting a code to be seen by other aircraft.
As their intentions are unknown, controllers reroute civilian traffic to ensure they are safely separated and deconflicted.
#QRA 4/7
As their intentions are unknown, controllers reroute civilian traffic to ensure they are safely separated and deconflicted.
#QRA 4/7
🗺️ This map shows some of the routes civilian airliners take when entering and departing UK airspace.
As you can see, the Russian aircraft were operating in and around many of these routes.
#QRA 5/7
As you can see, the Russian aircraft were operating in and around many of these routes.
#QRA 5/7
⚠️ Acting as a communications relay, the BEAR-J trails a very long 'trailing wire antenna'.
This antenna can extend out almost 5 miles, and poses a potential safety risk to anything flying in its trail if not managed by air traffic controllers.
#QRA 6/7
This antenna can extend out almost 5 miles, and poses a potential safety risk to anything flying in its trail if not managed by air traffic controllers.
#QRA 6/7
Not only do our Typhoons act as a deterrent to this activity, but they can make themselves visible to air traffic controllers and Battlespace Managers.
Ultimately we are not just #SecuringTheSkies, but making them safer for other airspace users.
#WeAreNATO #QRA 7/7
Ultimately we are not just #SecuringTheSkies, but making them safer for other airspace users.
#WeAreNATO #QRA 7/7
