RAF chief tells British fighter pilots have to be ready for direct conflict with Russia

The UK's warplanes and aviators are ready to fight should Russia's military pose a threat to Britain or its allies, the head of the Royal Air Force, Mike Wigston, has said.

Report informs, citing Sky News, that Wigston said: "There is no doubt in my mind that Russia is the most pressing threat to UK and European security - just look at its behaviour not just in Ukraine but in… Georgia before that.

"So we have to be ready and we have to be ready to stand by our allies in NATO and defend NATO territory - not just UK territory.

"I am in no doubt that that is the clear and present threat we are training to be ready for. Clearly we hope it won't come to that and deterrence will work but come the day Russia takes an aggressive act against a NATO state we would be ready," he said.