A pair of Russian Bear bombers have been intercepted off Newcastle by the last remnants of RAF Leuchars Tornado crews who are about to say goodbye to the threatened front line base.
The incident took place as pressure mounts on the UK government to retain the Fife base.
Many people claim it is in the best strategic location for the vital Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) work carried out by crews ready to depart at a just few minutes notice right around the clock.
Leuchars-based fliers have built up massive expertise in QRA in the skies over the UK and north Atlantic, and until last year over the hostile waters of the South Atlantic flying out of the Falkland Islands.
The few remaining Leuchars F3 Tornado fighters are in their final weeks of service, and the QRA task will be totally taken on by the Typhoon crews of 6 Squadron.
This is the first of three squadrons promised to Fife at a time when the future of the base was said to be secure for decades to come.
6 Squadron is gradually building up to full strength at the base, but it is still not known if, or when, the other two units will arrive.
At the moment there are under 1000 service personnel at Leuchars, a drop from a peak of around 1800.
The latest interception, which resulted from a 2am alarm just a few nights ago, marks a continuation of an increase in activity by Russian Bears in UK airspace.
Two Leuchars-based fighters roared off to meet the intruders and turn them back.
The incursion was revealed just a matter of hours after Scottish Secretary Michael Moore paid a visit to Leuchars to meet local campaigners.