Russia has violated UK airspace 18 times in two years

London, July 10 (ANI): Russian military aircraft violated British airspace without permission 18 times over the last two years, and now Members of Parliament are urging the Gordon Brown Government to take on a "more robust" stance, the Daily Telegraph reports.

RAF fighters were scrambled to intercept the Russian Bear bombers.

The Commons Defence Committee said the actions were "not the actions of a friendly nation".

While the flights did not pose a direct threat to the security of Britain or NATO, the committee said they could endanger civil aircraft flying in the same area and risked causing serious accidents.

"The Government should take a more robust approach in making clear to Russia that its continued secret incursions by military aircraft into international airspace near to the UK is not acceptable behaviour," said the committee in its report.

The committee said that such flights took place on 10 separate days in 2007, although they have since dropped off, with flights on just two days so far this year.

Overall the committee said that Britain should adopt a "practical and hard-headed approach" in its dealings with Russia. (ANI)