RAF TYPHOONS intercepted two Russian “Bear” bombers flying near the UK in a daring swoop.
The two jets scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth to chase down the Cold War-era planes sent by Vladimir Putin.
One of the Typhoons pictured flying alongside the Russian ‘Bear’ bomber near Scotland
Pictures show
The two fighter jets were supported by an Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker flying alongside them on the mission.
Dutch and Danish F-16s were also scrambled to track the aircraft as part of a joint Nato mission.
Russian planes and warships are often spotted near the UK as they carry out missions around the North Sea and the Arctic.
British forces however are always on alert to monitor and intercept should Putin’s men stray too close.
One of the Typhoon pilots, who was not named, said “adrenaline kicked in” when the scramble alarm was sounded “in the early hours of the morning”.
They added: “It’s really satisfying to know we’ve been able to make a successful intercept, maintaining the integrity of UK and Nato airspace.”
The jets refuelled from the Voyager tanker to extend their time in the sky.
The pilot added: “Working in tandem with ground control operators, and with air-to-air refueling from an RAF Voyager, we were able to stay on task until the mission was complete, and the target aircraft departed the UK’s area of interest.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the Russian jets were maritime patrol aircraft used for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.
MoD officials said the Russian jets passed “north of the UK”.
Dutch officials earlier today also confirmed they detected two bombers flying over Denmark and towards the Netherlands.
Danish F-16s were deployed and the aircraft were stopped before the entered Nato airspace.
The Dutch Royal Airforce said that planes are intercepted if they do not have a unique identifying code, did not provide a flight plan, and if there is no two-way conversation.
Tupolev Tu-142s – or “Bears” as they are dubbed by Nato – are long-range anti-submarine and maritime warfare planes.
They are relics based on the original Tu-95 nuclear bomber from the 1950s.
But they are still key part of Putin’s air force, with nearly two dozen of the Tu-142 still in service.
Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, said: “RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over UK airspace and are always ready to take action at a moment’s notice to keep our country safe.
“Pilots launched in their Typhoon jets to intercept two Russian long-range bombers this morning, monitoring them as they passed north of the Shetland Islands, ready to counter any potential threat to UK territory.”