Boris Johnson's rebranded RAF jet in Russian plane alert
- Published
The Voyager has a military role in refuelling fighter jets
A plane used by Boris Johnson and the royal family has supported fighter jets in a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) incident off north west Scotland.
The Voyager was rebranded with the Union flag to "better represent" the UK abroad at a cost of £900,000 last month, sparking a political row.
The aircraft has a military role in refuelling jets while in the air.
It was scrambled along with RAF Lossiemouth Typhoons to intercept Russian military aircraft.
The Russian planes remained in international airspace and turned away as they approached what is known as the UK Flight Information Region, north west of the Western Isles.
The RAF said an interception was not needed and the Voyager returned to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and the Typhoon crews to their station in Moray.
The Voyager and a Typhoon during Friday's QRA
The Voyager is used by the prime minister and members of the royal family for international travel.
Last month, Downing Street said the rebranding of the aircraft represented "value for money" and that all of the work was being done in the UK.
But opposition parties were critical, saying the money would be better spent on helping the victims of coronavirus.
RAF Typhoons stationed at Lossiemouth were scrambled to the incident off north-west of the Western Isles
QRA incidents can occur several times a year and have done since the early days of Cold War tensions. They involve RAF jets being scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft approaching UK airspace.
In April, the RAF's Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, condemned his Russian counterpart after two maritime patrol planes were intercepted north-east of Scotland while the UK was still under strict lockdown restrictions.
RAF Typhoon fighters were deployed from Lossiemouth as the Russian Tu-142 "Bear-F" aircraft approached.
The Russian aircraft stayed in international airspace over the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea.
However, the RAF said they were flying within the UK's "area of interest".