
A Russian military plane that strayed close to Denmark's airspace was intercepted by a special F-16 fighter jet that had been painted in the colours of the Danish flag.

The warplane was painted red and white to mark 800 years of the Danish flag, which was adopted in 1219.

The plane, numbered E-191, has already toured Denmark for commemorative air shows but on Monday it was one of the planes sent into action to confront the Russian aircraft.

Danish colours: A Danish F-16 fighter jet (top right) which was painted in the colours of Denmark's flag - to celebrate 800 years since it was adopted - helps to intercept a Russian IL-20M spy plane (seen bottom left) in an operation on Monday. The plane has already toured Denmark for commemorative air shows to mark the anniversary

In pursuit: The Danish plane, which is mostly painted red but with a distinctive white cross down the centre and on the wings, has the number '800' painted on its tailfin to commemorate eight centuries of the Danish flag, and its codename E-191 painted on the fuselage, joins the operation to keep the rather less colourful Russian plane out of Danish airspace on Monday

Photos of the operation showed the F-16 as it flew close to the Russian plane, painted mostly in red but with the distinctive white cross down the centre and on its wings.

'The flight was a routine task, but it's rare that we get such great pictures, so you must have them too,' the Danish military said as they published the photos.

The Lockheed Martin-manufactured plane will carry the special livery for the rest of its life, although it will not be used for international operations.

The rather less colourful Russian jet, a Soviet-era IL-20M reconnaissance plane, did not enter Danish airspace.

From above: The Russian jet, a Soviet-era IL-20M spy plane, did not enter Danish airspace after it was intercepted by Danish aircraft including the repainted F-16 (seen at the bottom of this picture). The Russian plane is designated Coot-A by Nato

Commemoration: A closer-up view of the Danish plane, manufactured by Lockheed Martin and painted in the special colours this year. The fighter jet will carry the special livery for the rest of its life although it will not be used abroad