Two Typhoon fighter jets were flown from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, along with a Voyager refuelling jet from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, according to multiple reports. The planes flew towards Shetland, off Scotland's north-east coast, and were tracked circling nearby. The Telegraph reported that an unidentified Russian warplane sat outside British airspace. It did not need to be intercepted or escorted by the British jets, which later returned to base.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told British military chiefs to find £3.5bn in budget cuts despite the crisis in Iran and the looming threat the Kremlin poses to the West, according to multiple reports. The heads of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, along with other top brass, are reported to be meeting this week to discuss funding pressures. They have been asked by Ministry of Defence officials to find £3.5bn of 'efficiencies' and other savings this year, according to Sky News. Sources said the in-year squeeze is because the current defence budget is insufficient to deliver existing plans. It previously emerged that the MoD is facing a £28bn shortfall between now and 2030, with the Prime Minister said to have been given the dire financial assessment before Christmas.
In a separate incident, two RAF Typhoons were scrambled from a Romanian air base to engage Russian drones close to Nato air space, although they did not fire or shoot any down, according to multiple reports. British defence sources said the fighter jets did not enter Ukrainian airspace, contradicting reports that Russian drones had been shot down by the RAF there. Romanian officials reported that the Typhoons took off at 2am on Saturday in response to the drone threat, established radar contact on the targets and had authorisation to engage if necessary. The Typhoons are based in Romania as part of a rotating multinational Nato air mission to protect eastern European countries from Russian drone incursions that might spill over from the war in Ukraine. The RAF Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft operated strictly within Romanian airspace in accordance with the national and allied rules of engagement, officials said, and did not enter Ukrainian airspace at any point during the mission. The mission therefore remained one of surveillance, deterrence, and readiness to respond if required.
The Ministry of Defence provided an update on UK operations in the Middle East. RAF Typhoon jets were deployed overnight to defend two Middle Eastern nations, the MoD said. Two drones heading for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus were intercepted on Monday. A drone hit the British base overnight on Sunday with no casualties and minimal damage. Family members would be moved to alternative accommodation as a precautionary measure following Sunday's attack. British bases in Cyprus are not being used by US bombers. The strike on RAF Akrotiri was not in response to any decision that the UK government had taken; the drone was launched before the UK announced it would allow the US to use UK bases for defensive actions. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said the attack involved an Iranian drone. Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed no casualties and minimal damage on RAF Akrotiri. Employees at the base received a message telling them to stay away from windows and take shelter behind furniture. An alarm was raised at Paphos Airport after a suspected drone was spotted in the airspace and evacuation instructions were given.
In the Gulf region, RAF Typhoon jets destroyed an uncrewed aerial system targeting Jordan and intercepted a drone bound for Bahrain. Extra air operations specialists have been sent to the Gulf region to maintain an accurate air picture and support allies. The UK has begun conducting defensive air sorties in support of the United Arab Emirates. Wildcat and Merlin helicopters have been dispatched to Britain's Cyprus bases to bolster defensive operations. The UK has temporarily removed the dependants of embassy personnel in the UAE as a precautionary measure.