Two Royal Air Force Typhoon jets were scrambled from Fife on Wednesday to intercept Russian bombers detected near UK airspace.
The Royal Air Force Quick Reaction Alert [QRA] raced from Leuchars air base in Fife after Nato radars detected the Russian jets entering the UK's area of interest.
F-16s from the Royal Norwegian Air Force were the first to intercept the RussianTu-160 Blackjack bombers, with the RAF scrambled as they headed south towards the UK area of interest.
As well as the QRA from Leuchars, a Voyager Multi-Role Tanker Transport also scrambled from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, the RAF said.
Whilst no longer a full operational air base, Leuchars remains an army base home of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, where the RAF scramble from intermittently.
The Russian Jets were handed back to the Royal Norwegian Air Force when they changed course and headed north.
The Typhoons returned to their permanent home at RAF Lossiemouth.
One of the pilots involved in the mission said: “We worked closely with units from around the Royal Air Force to deliver another successful intercept, maintaining the safety and integrity of UK and Nato airspace throughout.
“The Control and Reporting Centre at RAF Scampton routed us directly to the Tu-160 Blackjacks so that we could take over the mission from our Norwegian allies.
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“Air to air refuelling from an RAF Voyager ensured we were able to stay on task until the two Blackjacks departed from the UK’s area of interest.”
Only last month a similar mission was launched after Russian bombers approached the UK.
