News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

RAF fighter jets were scrambled out to intercept Russian aircraft today as they tried to enter British airspace, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The unidentified aircraft were tracked heading towards the north west coast of Scotland, prompting the air force to deploy six Typhoons from its Quick Reaction Alert programme.

Two pairs of Typhoons were dispatched from RAF Lossiemouth, which is in north-east Scotland, while the third pair flew from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Two pairs approached the aircraft before withdrawing, while the third pair finished the job of forcing them to change course.

A Voyager tanker, an air-to-air refuelling aircraft - from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire - was also deployed to support the mission.

(Image: PA)

The unidentified aircraft were later revealed to be Tupolev Tu-95 Bears - Russian aircraft used both as strategic bombers and long-range maritime patrol planes.

The total number of Russian aircraft involved in the incident has not been revealed.

"This was a routine response to Russian aircraft approaching UK air space and was coordinated with several other Nato allies," and RAF spokesman said.

RAF Lossiemouth tweeted: "At no point did these aircraft enter UK sovereign airspace.

"The Russian aircraft were shadowed by our Typhoons, along with (Quick Reaction Alert) aircraft from our @NATO partners in Norway and France."

(Image: PA)

It added: "We are ready to respond to any unidentified aircraft and potential airborne threats, 24/7/365."

The last time aircraft from Quick Reaction Alert were deployed to deter what were believed to be Russian military aircraft from UK airspace was August last year.

In April, Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth were scrambled twice in five days for the same reason.

During the same period, jets from RAF Coningsby were also deployed to a separate incident also involving Russian aircraft.

Last summer, RAF fighter jets were deployed several times to see off Russian planes encroaching on Estonian airspace.

At the time, RAF personnel had been participating in Operation Azotize, a four-month deployment in the Baltic country, to support the Nato Baltic Air Policing mission.

RAF jets were again called to the assistance of Estonia in February of this year.

Russia frequently uses its warplanes to intimidate the smaller country and test the strength of its response.