An RAF Typhoon based at Leuchars has chased away two Russian surveillance aircraft spotted flying off the north east coast of Scotland.
The planes, believed to be Tupolev 95s, were turned away after they were seen flying close to UK airspace on Wednesday.
They were last spotted heading towards Scandanavia after being intercepted by the QRA Typhoons.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed that the aircrafts were military.
He said: “Typhoon quick reaction alert aircraft were launched today from RAF Leuchars to determine the identity of unknown aircraft that approached the NATO air policing area north of Scotland and could not be identified by other means.
“The aircraft were subsequently identified as Russian military aircraft. The aircraft remained in international airspace at all times as they are perfectly entitled to do so.
“Russian military flights have never entered UK sovereign airspace without authorisation.”
The incident comes as tensions mount between western powers and Russia after Crimea was annexed last month.
