RAF Typhoon warplanes were scrambled today to intercept Russian bombers heading for British airspace.
A pair of the 1,500mph fighter jets roared away from their base at Lossiemouth, Scotland, after the quick reaction alert was sounded.
They thundered towards the Blackjack long-range planes sent by the Kremlin and which were “approaching UK airspace”, the Ministry of Defence said.
The British Top Guns were refuelled in mid-air by an RAF Voyager tanker which took off from Brize Norton, the UK’s biggest military air station.
The MoD said in a statement: “The RAF worked closely with NATO partners to monitor the Russian aircraft as they passed through a variety of international airspace before they were intercepted over the North Sea.
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“Our fighters escorted them from the UK’s area of interest and ensured that they did not enter UK sovereign airspace.”
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Our brave RAF pilots have shown again that we are ready to respond to any threat to the UK.
“Alongside our NATO allies, we must remain vigilant and aware of Russian military activity.”
A dummy interception over the North Sea was witnessed by Theresa May in December 2017 after she allowed her prime ministerial Voyager to act as the “Russian” enemy for an intercept training exercise off the Norfolk coast.
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The PM was flying home from a trip to Poland and Cyprus.
Today’s launch is the second time this week RAF aircraft have taken to the air to investigate Russian activity, following a similar incident on Wednesday night.
But the MoD said that “on that occasion, an intercept by the Typhoons was not necessary”.
