An abrupt move by a Russian warship to fire live artillery rounds in the English Channel as Andy Burnham was becoming prime minister saw at least five British and French military aircraft scrambled to the area, it can be revealed.
The heavily-armed Russian frigate, Neustrashimy, continued to be tracked by the Royal Navy on Tuesday a day after it performed a “highly unusual” 30-minute test firing of its main cannon using live rounds in international waters some 46 miles south of Plymouth.
Aviation tracking data shows that the exercise by the Kremlin warship was followed by a flurry of activity by UK and French forces as aircraft, including two RAF Typhoon jets, circled off the South Coast and military helicopters also operated in the vicinity.
Shorts
A Royal Navy patrol vessel, HMS Tyne, which had been shadowing the Neustrashimy, was forced to reposition to a safe distance of five miles after it was radioed by the Russian ship of its intention to conduct the firing exercise between 9am and 10am on Monday.
