Overview
- Two Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth, which launched Tuesday with a Voyager tanker from RAF Brize Norton, tracked a suspected Russian long‑range bomber toward Shetland and then returned to base.
- Defence officials said the sortie formed part of a wider NATO response to stepped‑up Russian flights over the North Atlantic.
- UK ministers disclosed last week that an Akula‑class attack submarine and two GUGI specialist boats were monitored over undersea cables and pipelines north of the UK for weeks and then withdrew.
- GUGI is a Russian deep‑sea unit linked to seabed operations, and the UK warned that any attempt to damage data cables or energy lines would carry serious consequences.
- The MOD says QRA jets and maritime patrols stand ready around the clock, with coordination from allies such as Norway to track contacts over and under the North Atlantic.