Hebrides  News                                                                                                                     info@hebrides.biz

Two Russian bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, were intercepted by RAF fighter jets flying off the Western Isles earlier this month it was revealed today.

In scenes harking back to the Cold War the pair of Tupolev TU-160 aircraft swooped down the length of the islands.

RAF chases Russian bomber planes off the Western Isles                       24/3/10

The cat-and-mouse game by the Hebrides lasted about four hours after the long-rage bombers - nicknamed Blackjacks - entered unauthorised UK air space as they approached the islands in the early hours of 10th March.   

Defence officials said two F3 Tornados were scrambled from RAF Leuchars in Fife and spotted the planes near Stornoway.  The RAF pilots shadowed the Russian aircraft  on their flight southwards beyond Castlebay.   

Between Barra and Northern Ireland, the intruders turned and flew up north again still followed by the Tornados from 111 Squadron.

The RAF had been on alert soon after the Tupolev TU-160s left Russia heading to Scotland and were picked up on radar by the Scandinavian and Icelandic air forces.

The Russian Blackjack bomber is shadowed from below by a RAF fighter jet.      Pictures: RAF

One of the Russian bombers as it flies near the Western Isles

The 'Vasily Reshetnikov' was photographed on its unauthorised flight

The Russian intruders continue their flight        Pictures: RAF

They made no contact with UK air traffic control are were electronically tracked as they flew parallel to the west coast of the Hebrides.

Based in the south west of Russia, the Tupelov Tu-160s are the world’s largest bomber aircraft and can carry nuclear missiles.