Danish Air Force intercepts 2 Russian bombers

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Danish Air Force Monday night sent two fighter jets to intercept two Russian bombers approaching its airspace, according to reports reaching here.

Danish agency Ritzau reported on Tuesday that the fighter jets were sent on the mission late Monday after a Danish Air Force radar picked up two Russian Tupolev bombers near its airspace.

Russian bombers have never been so close to Danish airspace, but other NATO members as Britain and Norway recorded such incidents before, Ritzau said.

Russia resumed its strategic bomber patrol on Aug. 17, 15 years after the practice was called off due to financial difficulties.

Russia's head of strategic aviation General Pavel Androsov said in August that the aircraft would not carry nuclear weapons and the main aim of the flights was to improve training for pilots.