Moscow alarm over RAF ‘permission to down Russian planes’

“The defence attache reiterated the British government’s concerns about Russia’s military operation in Syria, including targeting legitimate opposition groups, using unguided weaponry and leading to large numbers of civilian deaths”.

A senior defence source said: “Up till now RAF Tornados have been equipped with 500lb satellite-guided bombs – there has been no or little air-to-air threat”.

In London, Alexander Yakovenko, the Russian ambassador, said that he had “urgently requested explanations” from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

United Kingdom defense sources stressed that RAF pilots have been told to avoid contact with Russian jets “at all costs”, but warned the pilots must be prepared to attack Russian jets “if their lives depend on it”. But their aircraft have been armed with air-to-air missiles and the pilots have been given the green light to defend themselves if they are threatened by Russian pilots. Defence chiefs believe there is a real possibility a British jet could be attacked or shot down in a dogfight with a Russian pilot. “We now have a situation where a single pilot, irrespective of nationality, can have a strategic impact on future events”.

“We can confirm that our Moscow Defense Attache met with the Russian Ministry of Defense on October 12”.

British Tornado GR4 fighter jets operating in Iraq were manufactured more than a quarter of a century ago, whereas the Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jets ensuring air escort for the assault groups in Syria entered service in the 21st century and are a step ahead of their British counterparts in every way, including inventory and radar range. At the same time, RAF does not participate in the anti-ISIS coalition strikes in Syria.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, an appraisal carried out by United Kingdom defence officials said: “It took six days for Russian Federation to strike any Isis targets at all. The question arises, what is the goal of such a provocative media leak?