The RAF intercepted two Russian long-range supersonic nuclear capable bombers flying off the coast of Northumbria and escorted them away from the UK area of interest.

The Ministry of Defence released photographs of one of the Cold War era aircraft being intercepted by the Typhoons which were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth.

The Quick Reaction Alert fighter aircraft are tasked with intercepting any threats to UK airspace at short notice and were refuelled by an RAF Voyager aircraft from Brize Norton during the mission.

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An RAF Typhoon, left, escorted the supersonic nuclear capable Russian bomber, right, away from the UK

The Tupolev Tu-160 'Black Jack' bomber can travel at twice the speed of sound and carry 16 nuclear missiles

RAF Typhoons based at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, raced to intercept the Russian jets

According to the MOD, the Typhoon pilots closed in on the two Russian aircraft and visually identified them as Tupolev Tu-160 'Black Jack' bombers.

It is understood that the supersonic bombers flew into the Baltic

The Russian jets are capable of travelling at twice the speed of sound and delivering up to 16 short-range nuclear missiles or conventional munitions.

Squadron Leader Jim Calvert of II(AC) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth flew one of the Typhoons which intercepted the Russian jets.

He said: 'Given the Royal Air Force’s enduring commitment to secure the UK’s skies, yesterday’s sortie once again proved Typhoon’s capability to successfully scramble and intercept Russian long-range aviation.

'Protecting our skies is especially poignant in this 75th anniversary year of the Battle of Britain. Working together with ground-based radar and air-to-air refuelling aircraft today’s RAF continues to come together as a team to protect our country.'

The Russian jets skirted around the outside of Norwegian territory before heading into the North Sea

Russia has increased the number of missions involving Cold War era bombers probing UK areas of interest

Intercepts of Russian aircraft by NATO have increased over the last year amid heightened tensions between the West and Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.

In July, RAF jets based at in the Baltic intercepted ten Russian jets on a training mission in the region.

Moscow deployed four of the world’s fastest supersonic fighter jets, along with other warplanes, on just one day in a sign of worsening tensions in the region.

The Russian planes streaked along the fringes of Baltic airspace in an intense 90-minute period, prompting the deployment of state-of-the-art Typhoons from Amari air base in Estonia.

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The Russian planes streaked along the fringes of Baltic airspace in an intense 90-minute period, prompting the deployment of state-of-the-art Typhoons from Amari air base in Estonia

RAF pilots have taken to the skies from their Estonian base more times in 2015 so far than in the whole of 2014.

The aircraft, from 6 Squadron, identified four Sukhoi Su-34 fighters, four MiG-31 Foxhound fighters and two Curl transport aircraft.

The Foxhound – one of the most formidable fighters – is capable of firing long-range missiles up to 100 miles.

Typhoon aircraft, from 6 (Fighter) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth were launched after multiple groups of aircraft were detected by NATO air defences in international airspace