GETTY The Tu-160 bomber

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Typhoons jets from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire were deployed as part of the RAF's quick reaction alert. The Tu-160 is a heavy strategic bomber with a swept back, Concorde-style wing, which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The pair of bombers is not in UK airspace but is believed to be over the North Sea in what is known as the UK's 'area of interest'.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the jets were scrambled this afternoon. Both jets are thought to be heading southbound towards France after presuambly flying from Russia around Norway's northern and western coastline.

Intercepts of Russian aircraft by NATO have increased over the last year amid heightened tensions between the West and Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. An RAF spokesman said the situation was "on-going" and was not uncommon. He said: "We have Typhoons up on a quick reaction alert. The situation is on-going."

RAF jets are being scrambled an average of once a month to deal with Russian aircraft encroaching on UK airspace. On 52 occasions over the last five years, quick response aircraft took off to respond to Moscow's jets. Ten jets were scrambled in 2011 - the peak during the six year period - while nine incidents were recorded in 2012.

GETTY A Tupolev Tu-160 bomber taking off

GETTY The Tu-160 is a heavy strategic bomber with a swept back, Concorde-style wing

GETTY A Typhoon jet taking off from RAF Coningsby

Amazing pictures of Concordes Wed, June 21, 2017 Concorde was a turbojet passenger airliner capable of transatlantic flights in half the time of other airlines. It graced our skies from 1976 - 2003. Play slideshow tony stone 1 of 6 Concorde taking off at sunset