The video will start in 8 Cancel

The Daily Star's FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inbox Sign up today! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Two 1,550mph Typhoon fighter jets were sent to escort the Russian planes as they flew over the North Sea off the coast of northern Scotland.

The Eurofighter Typhoons were dispatched from RAF Lossiemouth, in Moray, north-east Scotland, at around 9:30am to deal with the incursion.

A British Voyager refuelling plane was sent to support the two jets as they escorted the Russian aircraft away from the UK as part of a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA).

The Russian planes are believed to be nuclear-capable Tupolev Tu-160s – newly built long-range strategic bombers codenamed "Blackjack".

At their closest, the Russian aircraft came within 30 nautical miles (34.5 miles) of the UK, but the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said "at no point" did the Blackjacks enter British airspace.

The Belgian and French air forces also scrambled F-16 fighter jets to check the Russian planes as they flew past Norway and Denmark and near the Netherlands

(Image: DS) (Image: TWITTER)

A RAF spokesman said: "We can confirm that Quick Reaction Alert (QRA)Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth scrambled to monitor two Blackjack bombers approaching the UK area of interest.

"The Russian aircraft were initially monitored by a variety of friendly nation fighters and subsequently intercepted by the RAF in the North Sea.

"At no point did the Russian aircraft enter sovereign UK airspace."

The RAF has not confirmed how many British planes were involved in the mission.

Initially, the RAF said it would not comment on the "live operation" as the jets pursued the Russian bombers off the coast of Scotland at 1,500mph.

(Image: WIKIPEDIA)

The Typhoons tailed a British Voyager aircraft off Caithness, northern Scotland, at around 30,000ft this morning, air traffic monitors showed.

The Voyager – a specialist air-to-air refuelling aircraft – headed southwards with the jets in tow after taking off from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

After looping around John O' Groats, the fleet made its way south towards the Netherlands at around 10am.

As the Russian planes descended on the continent, Belgian and French fighter jets were later mobilised to face them down.

In a statement, the Belgium Air Force said on Twitter: "Today, 2 #F16 @BeAirForce successfully intercepted 2 Russian TU-160 Blackjack bombers above the North Sea, within the Dutch area of responsability of #NATO airspace.

"Due to supersonic flight, the Belgian #F16 were able to complete their mission, guaranteeing your #Security."

(Image: AIRCRAFT SPOTS)

The encroachment is the latest example of Russia sending planes and ships within strike range of Britain.

In September last year, two Typhoons were sent to monitor Russian planes on course for Scotland in a similar episode.

Tensions between the west and Moscow have been frosty in recent months amid allegations Russia attempted to subvert democratic votes, including Britain's EU referendum and the 2016 US election.

Meanwhile, NATO has been locked in a stand-off with Russia in eastern Europe, a region where both sides have held large-scale military drills.