Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 11, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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UK jets joined US and NATO forces for a 12-hour mission near the Russian border, responding to recent airspace incursions.
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain said on Saturday that two Royal Air Force aircraft flew a 12-hour mission earlier this week alongside U.S. and NATO forces to patrol the border of Russia, amid a series of recent Russian drone and aircraft incursions into NATO airspace.
"This was a substantial joint mission with our U.S. and NATO allies," defence minister John Healey said.
"Not only does this provide valuable intelligence to boost the operational awareness of our Armed Forces, but sends a powerful message of NATO unity to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and our adversaries," Healey added.
An RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic surveillance aircraft and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane flew from the Arctic region past Belarus and Ukraine on Thursday, supported by a U.S. Air Force KC-135 refuelling aircraft.
Britain said the operation followed incursions into the airspaces of NATO countries including Poland, Romania and Estonia.
Earlier this month, European Union leaders backed plans to strengthen the bloc's defences against Russian drones.
(Reporting by Sam TabahritiEditing by Mark Potter)
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance of countries from North America and Europe, established for mutual defense against aggression.
Operational awareness refers to the understanding and knowledge of the current situation and environment in which military forces operate, crucial for effective decision-making.
Foreign currency is money that is issued by a country other than one's own, used in international transactions and trade.
In a military context, intelligence refers to information that is gathered and analyzed to inform strategic decisions and operations.
Financial stability is a condition where the financial system operates effectively, allowing for the smooth functioning of financial markets and institutions.
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