Britain has said that its Typhoon fighter jets intercepted two Russian maritime patrol bomber aircraft in international airspace north of Scotland, within NATO's northern air policing area.
"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," British armed forces minister James Heappey said.
Britain said its Typhoon jets are routinely scrambled during such incidents to secure and safeguard its skies.
British pilots also recently led NATO's air policing mission in Estonia, where more than 50 similar air intercepts were carried out, it added.
The Typhoons have since returned to their base, according to Britain's defence ministry.
Incidents involving Russian and Western aircraft have multiplied over the recent months against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
It comes after the Danish air force intercepted two Russian bombers that were identified over Denmark and flying towards the area that the Netherlands monitors for the NATO military alliance, the Dutch Royal Airforce said.
It added that Dutch F-16s were called into action this morning, but the Russian bombers were intercepted before they could enter Dutch NATO airspace and have now turned back.
A spokesperson for 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.
He also said that it is not rare for Russian aeroplanes to violate a European country's airspace or approach it.
Earlier today, Russia said its strategic bombers had carried out routine flights over international waters in the Arctic.
Additional reporting AFP
