The Royal Air Force intercepted a Russian Tu-142 while searching for submarines

15 August, 2023 Typhoon FGR.4 fighter of the 29th squadron of the Royal Air Force. Photo from the network The Royal Air Force intercepted the Tu-142 maritime patrol bombers north of Scotland.

This was announced on the website of the government of the United Kingdom. Two Tu-142 maritime patrol bombers of the Russian Navy were intercepted near the Shetland Islands, where they were searching for nuclear submarines of the United States and the UK. The Typhoon FGR.4 fighters were launched from RAF Lossiemouth, station to some of the rapid reaction force of 1st and 6th Squadrons.

A Typhoon FGR.4 fighter of the QRA escorts one of the intercepted Tu-142 maritime patrol bombers.

Photo credits: Royal Air Force

The flights of Russian maritime patrol aircraft began after the start of exercises of the US and UK nuclear deterrent forces, where they are practicing escorting a carrier ship for small submarines for sabotage forces. The American Ohio-class submarine and the British Vanguard-class submarine were involved in the exercises.

The Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine and the Vanguard-class submarine return to Faslane from exercises, August 14, 2023. Photos from the Internet

After the exercise, both boats returned to the Royal Navy's main nuclear submarine base in Faslane.

These are not isolated cases of interception. For example, during the deployment of the 9th Squadron to Estonia, RAF aircraft intercepted more than 50 Russian aircraft within four months. Militarnyi previously reported that the United Kingdom is expanding the number of specialists and facilities for the production of nuclear power plants and warheads.

The increase in staff is associated with the country's general direction - the UK wants to increase the production of nuclear reactors for military and commercial purposes.

The UK nuclear sector is currently undergoing expansion due to a large order of British nuclear submarines under the SSN-AUKUS project by Australia.

In addition to export orders, the United Kingdom is investing in infrastructure to construct and operate nuclear submarines of the Dreadnought project with Trident 2 D5 submarine-launched intercontinental-range ballistic missiles.