La RAF intercepta bombardero ruso en espacio aéreo británico/RAF catches Russian bombers in UK airspace

Dos Tornado F3 de la RAF ha interceptado el pasado 10 de marzo un bombardero ruso de largo alcance TU-160 "Blackjack", sobre la zona de Escocia. Fuentes aseguran que Rusia está interesada en la observación de maniobras militares británicas, de ahí esta misión.
_____________________________________________

The striking picture shows the RAF intercepting two long-range Russian "Blackjack" bombers after they breached UK airspace off the Scottish coast. The Russian planes, the world's biggest combat aircraft that are capable of carrying nuclear or conventional weapons, were intercepted by two Tornados near Stornoway in the Western Isles.RAF crews have now been scrambled 20 times in the past year to intercept Russian aircraft over British airspace, the Ministry of Defence revealed last night.
MoD insiders claim the Russian operation may have been aimed at watching preparations for a major military exercise to take place off the Scottish coast next month. The two Tornado F3 fighters from 111 Squadron were scrambled from RAF Leuchars in Fife in the early hours of 10 March.
After intercepting the Russian bombers, the Tornados shadowed the Tupolev TU-160 aircraft as they flew south before turning north, just short of the Northern Ireland coast. Eventually the Russians left UK airspace and, after four hours, the Tornado crews stood down and returned to Leuchars. New RAF Typhoon fighter jets are scheduled to replace the Tornados the in the Quick Reaction Alert role next year.
The latest incident followed the resumption in 2007 of long-range bomber patrols by the Russians, which has resulted in RAF fighters being scrambled on a number of occasions. The bomber flights have been seen as an indication of the current tensions between Russia and the West, particularly Britain. MoD sources said the latest episode may have been linked to the Joint Warrior military exercise to be staged off the Scottish coast from 12 April. As part of the exercise, navy, RAF and army squadrons will be engaged in mock engagements across the north and west coasts of Scotland. It will involve forces from other Nato countries.
The Ark Royal was also on operation in this area in recent weeks, which may have attracted attention from the Russian military. In 2007, a nuclear-armed Blackjack bomber staged a mock attack on the east coast of England and got within 90 seconds of Hull without being intercepted. Creeping in low over the North Sea, it changed course only 20 miles from UK territorial airspace.
THE Tupolev Tu-160 is a supersonic heavy bomber which began to be deployed in the last years of the Soviet Union. Known as the "White Swan" by its crews, it is the largest jet-powered combat aircraft ever built. Although several civil and military transport aircraft are bigger, the Tu-160 has the heaviest take-off weight and the highest top speed of any combat aircraft, as well as one of the largest payloads of any current heavy bomber.
The aircraft remains in production, with at least 16 currently in service with the Russian air force.