QRA Log

This page will collate all the information we can find publicly about specific QRA’s in a Log form. This will not be “live” but “historical” i.e. only publicised after the QRA has concluded and at very earliest during the post QRA Jet turnaround process. There will be certain lines we won’t cross, ie No live information, No Tactical Frequencies, No information that could lead to “sensitive” aspects being revealed (Such as Scramble time performance, Operational shortcomings, Weapons Platform Performance/Capability, Identification of Individuals and any procedures that may be subject to security classifications) for general information on how QRA’s are conducted in as much detail as we can give click here

Date: Thursday 17th September 2020
Time: Lunchtime
Station: North (RAF Lossiemouth) Flying from RAF Leuchars
Target: 2x Russian TU-142F “Bear”
Q1: [Typhoon FGR4] of RAF Lossiemouth (QRA North Station)
Q2: [Typhoon FGR4] of RAF Lossiemouth (QRA North Station)
Tanker: “W8R64” ZZ336 [Airbus Voyager KC3] of RAF Brize Norton UK (VIP “Vespina”)
AWACS: “NATO01” (Re-tasked) LX-N90452 [E3 Sentry] of Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany
Target Originated from: Likely Mainland Russia
Reason: Around Lunchtime Typhoons and tankers scrambled, targets were identified as Bears. The UK QRA lasted all afternoon and was eventually handed to the Royal Norwegian Air Force. It was the third QRA in 6 days for the North Station, all against Russian Aircraft. You can theorise as to the reasons, obviously QRA North is being flown from Leuchars, they may be wanting to test scramble times, to see if they are less efficient. But also the Navy are gearing up for GroupEx & Joint Warrior beyond that so are starting to gather in those areas, being as two of the three QRA’s were for Russian Submarine hunting aircraft they could be collecting intelligence on Submarines gathering for these exercises from the NATO Nations. Of course this is entirely speculative and it could easily be testing a new sensor, training new pilots or just, well, “because.”
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Date: Monday 14th September 2020
Time: Late Morning
Station: North (RAF Lossiemouth) Flying from RAF Leuchars
Target: 2x Russian Tu-160 Bombers, NATO Codename: “Blackjacks”
Q1: [Typhoon FGR4] of RAF Lossiemouth (QRA North Station)
Q2: [Typhoon FGR4] of RAF Lossiemouth (QRA North Station)
Tanker: “G8N62” ZZ336 [Airbus Voyager KC3] of RAF Brize Norton UK (VIP “Vespina”)
AWACS: “NATO06” (Re-tasked) LX-N90450 [E3 Sentry] of Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany
Target Originated from: Likely Mainland Russia
Reason: At 0934z Norwegian QRA F-16’s Scrambled from Bodø, Norway with instructions to fly North and climb FL360. Before long LX-N90450 a NATO E3 from Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany under callsign “NATO06” that was in the area anyway was tasked North to join the party. The Norwegians visually identified the Targets and as they continued to fly South QRA North (UK) then scrambled RAF Leuchars with the usual Tanker support, as Typhoons got to the area the Targets turned back North.
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Press: The Herald: The RAF confirm that Voyager was scrambled in response to Russian ‘bomber’ jets

Date: Saturday 12th September 2020
Time: Mid Afternoon
Station: North (RAF Lossiemouth) Flying from RAF Leuchars
Target: 2 Russian TU-142F “Bear”
Q1: “1AJ12”  [Typhoon FGR4] of RAF Lossiemouth (QRA North Station)
Q2: “1AJ13”  [Typhoon FGR4] of RAF Lossiemouth (QRA North Station)
Tanker: “R7X64” ZZ330 [Airbus Voyager KC3] of RAF Brize Norton UK flown out of RAF Mildenhall
Designated Airport/QRA Location: East Coast of Scotland
Target Originated from: Probably Mainland Russia
Reason: 2 Russian TU-142F NATO Codename “Bear” entered the UK area of interest East of Scotland. The specific F variant being an anti-submarine platform. Aircraft were tasked to shadow, report and photograph the aircraft. They did not enter UK Sovereign territory. Only unusual from the perspective that Lossiemouth was closed for Runway works so the Typhoons launched from Kinloss as their reserve station and RAF Brize Norton was closed for Runway Repairs so the tanker got airborne from RAF Mildenhall.
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Date: Sunday 30th August 2020
Time: Evening
Station: South (RAF Coningsby)
Target: “FR7364/RYR8WG” (Ryanair) OE-LMB [Airbus A320 232] of Laudamotion of Austria
Q1: “3EW36” ZK319 [Typhoon FGR4] from RAF Coningsby (QRA South Station)
Q2: “3EW37” ZK369 [Typhoon FGR4] from RAF Coningsby (QRA South Station)
Tanker: “3VK66” ZZ332 [Airbus Voyager KC3] from RAF Brize Norton UK
Designated Airport: London Stansted, UK
Target Originated from: Vienna International Airport, Austria
Reason: It has been widely reported that suspicious items were found in a toilet onboard the flight. Typhoons were scrambled from RAF Coningsby to CAP over London Stansted Airport as the aircraft came in. It sounds like Stansted was its destination anyway. The aircraft landed and was escorted to a remote area on the airfield where the armed police surrounded the aircraft as per procedure. Two men, a 34-year-old man from Kuwait and a 48-year-old man from Italy were detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act (2000) which is basically legislation giving officers power to stop, search, detain and establish the circumstances surrounding their presence on the flight rather than outlining any specific suspected offences.
Official Words: Essex Police: “Counter Terrorism Policing officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit have this evening (Sunday) detained two men under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act (2000). Enquiries are ongoing.” LINK

RAF spokesperson: “Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched this evening (Sunday) to intercept a civilian aircraft. The aircraft was escorted safely to Stansted.”

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2020-08-30 (4)

Press:

Sky News: “Two men held under Terrorism Act after Typhoon jets intercept passenger plane “

Daily Mail: RAF Typhoon jets scramble to intercept passenger jet that lands in Stansted after ‘suspicious object is found in plane toilet’

Airlive.net: “BREAKING A QRA has been launched tonight to escort a Ryanair flight to London Stansted”

Mirror: “Stansted incident: RAF jets scrambled and police called ‘as men taken off Ryanair plane'”

MSN: RAF Typhoons scrambled as ‘two men removed from Ryanair plane’ at Stansted Airport after ‘suspicious objects’ found

Evening Standard: “RAF Typhoons scrambled as ‘two men removed from Ryanair plane’ at Stansted Airport after ‘suspicious objects’ found “

Express: “RAF emergency: Fighter typhoons scrambled to intercept plane above London Stansted airport”