Russian supersonic bombers intercepted off Spanish coast

Two Russian supersonic bombers skirted the airspace of Spain, France, the UK and Norway before being intercepted by jets from each country, it has been revealed.

The TU-160s, known as Blackjack bombers, were tracked and photographed by French fighters on 22 September.

Two Spanish F-18 fighters were involved in the operation intercepting the Russian planes to the north of Bilbao.

Both bombers apparently then turned round and returned home but the incident has emerged during a period of sustained tension between Putin’s Russia and the West.{jcomments on}