Two Royal Air Force Typhoons intercepted two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers in a “UK area of interest” on Wednesday. The RAF jets scrambled from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire as the Russian bombers entered an area of interest, but the bombers did not enter UK airspace, an? RAF spokesperson told The Independent. The fighters escorted the bombers away from Russian airspace south across the North Sea. Russian bombers have routinely tested the response times of western countries, including across Europe, near Alaska, and in the Pacific.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.