UK-Russia
Britain's air force has flown sorties on 21 days in the past 12 month in response to unannounced incursions by Russian military aircraft into areas adjacent to United Kingdom airspace, Defence Secretary Des Browne has revealed.

In a written parliamentary reply, published Wednesday, Browne said that the number included four times so far this year concerning Russian aircraft approaching or entering Nato's Air Policing Area (APA), for which the UK has responsibility.

Quick Reaction Alert were launched to identify Russian military aircraft approaching or entering the APA, but "no Russian aircraft have penetrated UK national airspace," he told MPs.

The Defence Seretary also added that he was "withholding the exact dates that Russian military aircraft entered the APA as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces."
The monthly incursions show that the incursion reached their peak after the deterioration of relations last year over Britain's demand for the extradition of a former KGB officer in connection with the poisoning of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko in London.

Following the resumption of the Soviet-era practice of long-range routine patrol flights after a 15 year suspension, there were three alerts in September, four in October and five in November.

Although Britain and Russia have no extradition agreement, the fallout led to tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and the closure of two British Council officers earlier this year.