The UK Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoon tracked two Russian Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft, which are designed to neutralise US nuclear-armed submarines

On 14 August, the UK Ministry of Defence reported the interception of two Russian strategic aircraft. They were flying near the Shetland Islands in search of US and British nuclear submarines.

Here's What We Know

The UK Royal Air Force used Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for the interception. The Russian planes turned out to be a pair of Tu-142 anti-submarine bombers. They were flying over the North Sea in NATO's northern air patrol zone. A Voyager aerial refuelling tanker also took part in the interception mission.

The Tu-142 is a pretty old aircraft. It was put into service over 50 years ago and was built to neutralise US nuclear submarines armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.

The Tu-142 is based on the Tu-95RC turboprop strategic bomber-missile carrier. The anti-submarine aircraft has been modernised several times. From 1968 to 1994, approximately 100 units of the Tu-142 were built in various modifications.

Source: @DefenceHQ