Overview
- The UK Ministry of Defence said two Russian fighters intercepted an unarmed RAF Rivet Joint reconnaissance plane and a Su-35 flew close enough to trigger the aircraft’s emergency systems, a confrontation discussed by Nato foreign ministers on Friday.
- The Rivet Joint is a signals‑intelligence aircraft used to collect electronic and communications data and the interception disabled its autopilot and involved a Su-27 making repeated close passes.
- Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Russia’s weakening on the battlefield in Ukraine is making Moscow more unpredictable and that threats are widening across air, sea, land, space, cyber and information domains.
- Downing Street said the UK, France and Germany agreed to 'double down' on support for Ukraine and ministers at the Nato meeting called for sustained increases in defence and security investment.
- Officials warned the shift raises risks for civilians and critical infrastructure in Europe and signalled a long‑term change to the post‑Cold War security landscape that will require closer Nato coordination and tougher national defences.