By Cheryl Wood

RAF JETS were scrambled to intercept unauthorised or suspicious flights in or approaching UK airspace last year four times as often as the year before, it has emerged.

The sharp increase in QRAs (Quick Reaction Alerts) has been put down largely to the increased activity of Russian aircraft, in scenes harking back to the Cold War era.

Last year RAF jets were scrambled 33 times to intercept flights—roughly once every 11 days—compared to just eight alerts in 2006.

RAF Leuchars played a key role, with the station’s 43 and 111 squadrons providing QRA cover for the whole of the north of the UK.

The figures were released to independent defence publication, Jane’s Defence Weekly.

It said upturn in activity was largely due to Russian president Vladimir Putin’s announcement last August that the Russian air force would resume long-range bomber flights which had been suspended in 1992 after the end of the Cold War.

Relationships between Russia and the west are at their lowest ebb since the Cold War, exacerbated by the UK’s response to the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London, the expansion of NATO and the US’s plan to install missile interceptors in Poland.

In September Tornado F3s from Leuchars, which were temporarily based at RAF Leeming because of runway resurfacing, were launched and turned back eight Tupolev Tu-95 Bear aircraft.

Leuchars aircraft were also launched in August to intercept two Russian aircraft which turned back while still in international airspace and in May two of the station’s F3s intercepted another Bear observing a navy exercise from over the Hebrides.

Expert in international affairs at St Andrews University, Professor Paul Wilkinson, said the technique of Russia asserting its confidence was simply a phase.

He said, “This is a sign of the recent deterioration of relations and that the Russians are again using their aircraft as a way of signalling their displeasure.

“It is something which is causing concern in the MoD. After all, the Cold War ended in 1989-90 and we would have hoped that relations with Russia would have improved to the point where we no longer had any concerns of this kind.”

Statements by secret service heads, whose key work is now monitoring terrorism, indicated they reckoned there was still important work to be done in keeping an eye on Russian spies in the UK.

Describing the situation as a throwback to the tensions of the past, Mr Wilkinson said, “I don’t think we should be unduly alarmed or read to much into this.

“It is obviously in Russia’s interests to maintain peaceful trading relations with Europe, including the UK.

“I think this is a phase we are going through and the RAF is very professionally doing its job of monitoring these flights.”