British RAF pilots faced a chilling warning from Russian forces during a high-stakes encounter over the Black Sea, with Putin’s military threatening to destroy their aircraft if they did not change course.
“You Will Be Destroyed” – Russian Forces Issue Ominous Threat
Newly released cockpit footage reveals the moment two RAF Typhoon jets escorting a ‘Rivet Joint’ spy plane were intercepted off the coast of Ukraine. A Russian transmission, broadcast across all three aircraft, delivered a stark ultimatum:
“Ivory Eagle, Ivory Eagle, Ivory Eagle, Delta Echo Zemlya.
You are approaching the state border of the Russian Federation combat zone. If you don’t leave, you will be destroyed.”
The Typhoon pilots, Josh and Joe of 11 Squadron, had been scrambled from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, making a 500mph flight to rendezvous with the spy plane over Romania.
The Rivet Joint, a top-secret intelligence-gathering aircraft, was tasked with monitoring Russian military activity. With surface-to-air missile systems locked onto them and Russian fighter jets nearby, the RAF crew had to make a life-or-death decision.
“This Could Be Game Over for Us”
Speaking before the mission, Flt Lt Josh acknowledged the high-stakes nature of the sortie:
“We know 100% that there’s going to be Russian surface-to-air missile systems looking at us, Russian fighter jets. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”
His words took on an even more chilling tone during the encounter as he reflected:
“This could be game over for us.”
The mission’s gravity was underscored by past incidents, including an event in September 2022 when a Russian SU-27 fighter jet fired a missile in the vicinity of a Rivet Joint on a routine patrol over the Black Sea.
RAF Jets Scrambled Against Russian Bombers Near UK Airspace
While tensions over Ukraine remain high, Russian military aircraft have also been frequently intercepted closer to home.
The Metro can reveal that in 2024 alone, RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) jets were launched four times to intercept Russian long-range bombers approaching UK airspace. Three additional launches were carried out in response to aircraft from other nations.
Figures released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) show that in 2023, the RAF scrambled Typhoon jets nine times, three times in response to Russian bombers and six times against other potential threats.
Adrenaline-Fuelled Intercept in Scotland
One of the most dramatic QRA responses took place in August 2023, when Typhoon fighters were rushed into the sky to intercept two Russian Tu-142 ‘Bear’ bombers flying north of Scotland’s Shetland Islands.
An unnamed RAF pilot, describing the moment he received the scramble order, said:
“When the alarm for a scramble happened in the early hours of the morning, the adrenaline kicked in.”
With the support of air-to-air refuelling from an RAF Voyager, the Typhoon pilots successfully intercepted and monitored the Russian aircraft until they left the area.
“It’s really satisfying to know we’ve been able to make a successful intercept, maintaining the integrity of UK and NATO airspace.”
The High-Stakes Aerial Standoff Continues
Despite escalating tensions between Moscow and the West, the RAF’s QRA responses remain consistent, with British pilots standing ready at all times to counter any airborne threats.
From nerve-wrecking Black Sea encounters to interceptions near the UK, RAF pilots continue to operate on the frontline of a new Cold War-era stand-off.
