RAF Typhoon fighter jets scrambled to face down three Russian military aircraft that were approaching the Baltic skies.

The jets were launched from Amari air base in Estonia to intercept the Russian transport planes which were allegedly not engaging with air traffic control as expected.

The planes appeared 'unresponsive' and didn't transmit the recognised identification code in what was branded an 'act of Russian aggression' - but flew away when the RAF jets hovered over them.

A Russian IL76 Candid aircraft was shadowed by a RAF Typhoon fighter jet (bottom) after it - along with two other Russian military transport planes - approached Baltic skies

The interception of the three aircraft - an AN-26 Curl, AN-12 Cub and IL-76 Candid - was the first intervention of the RAF's latest mission to keep airspace in the area secure as part of the Baltic Air Policing Mission.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon branded the move an 'act of Russian aggression'.

He said: 'This is another example of just how important the UK's contribution to the Baltic Air Policing Mission is.

'We were able to instantly respond to this act of Russian aggression - demonstration of our commitment to Nato's collective defence.'

A second Russian plane - the Russian An26 Curl aircraft (left) - was intercepted by a RAF Typhoon jet

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon branded the move an 'act of Russian aggression' (Pictured a Russian An26 Curl aircraft - right - being shadowed by a RAF Typhoon)

Four RAF jets were deployed to join Baltic Air Policing for the four-month mission in April.

The NATO effort sees alliance members without their own air policing assets assisted by others in four-monthly cycles.

In this rotation, which is the third consecutive year the year the UK has committed to BAP, UK jets work alongside Portuguese F16s operating from Šiauliai in Lithuania.

One of the pilots involved in the mission said it went smoothly.

They said: 'The scramble went exactly as planned, we launched our Typhoon aircraft quickly and then using our advanced sensors and mission systems, combined with support from our Battlespace Managers on the ground, carried out textbook intercepts of the three aircraft.'

The Russian aircraft was said to appear unresponsive and did not communicate with air traffic control as was expected (pictured the Russian An12 Cub)

Four RAF jets were deployed to join Baltic Air Policing for the four-month mission in April (pictured the Russian An26 Curl aircraft)

Wing Commander Gordon Melville added: 'We have once more proven our ability to secure the skies in the vicinity of the Baltic States and have demonstrated the close link between the Royal Air Force, Estonian and Nato units that have planned and enabled this defensive response so successfully. We will continue to standby 24/7 to secure the Baltic skies.'

During the last mission Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled 17 times, intercepting more than 40 Russian aircraft.

The news of the interception comes as the Georgian army began two weeks of military exercises with the United States and Britain earlier this week - despite Russia's anger as American tanks rolled into its backyard.

Hundreds of soldiers gathered at the military base of Vaziani - once used by Russia, just outside the capital Tbilisi - for the opening ceremony of the exercise, dubbed 'Noble Partner 2016'.

As the sky filled with paratroopers while some 650 American, 150 British and 500 Georgian soldiers watched on in front of a fleet of tanks, Moscow's anger was almost palpable.

Last week, it said the decision to hold the exercise on its doorstep was 'provocative' and 'aimed at deliberately rocking the military-political situation in the South Caucasus'.

The Russian Foreign Ministry went as far as to accuse the United States - which has also dispatched an entire mechanised company, including eight Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and, for the first time, eight M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks - was indulging the 'revanchist desires of Tbilisi'.

It is a charge which Georgia has strongly denied.