Royal Air Force Typhoons were among jets scrambled by four Nato air forces after Russian bombers flew a long-range mission along Europe’s western seaboard last month.

Norwegian, British, French, and Spanish fighters were scrambled in succession when two bombers flew from the Arctic to the Bay of Biscay.

The incident, which occurred on September 22 but only recently came to light in a French defence ministry statement, comes at a time of heightened tension between Russia and the West.

The episode began when Norway scrambled two F-16 fighters to respond to a pair of Tui160 Blackjack bombers flying toward northern Scotland on the morning of September 22.