It is not known what the Russian jets were doing here, but the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the RAF has been mobilised.
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Two typhoon fighter jets have been sent to deal with the incursion.
An RAF spokesman said the planes were scrambled on Thursday night from RAF Lossiemouth to intercept the Russian Tu-160 Blackjacks, long-range bombers, as they flew in global airspace over the Atlantic, close to encroaching on United Kingdom air space.
According to a ministry spokesman “two Russian Tu-160 aircraft flying in Britain’s area of interest” were escorted away.
Russian sources say Tupolev Tu-95 “Bear” and Tu-160 “Blackjack” nuclear-capable bombers regularly pass by United Kingdom airspace, mostly over the North Sea, while patrolling the North Atlantic.
Britain scrambled Typhoons to intercept two Russian bombers near United Kingdom airspace, it has been revealed.
The aircraft did not enter United Kingdom airspace, the RAF said.
Sky News Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall has described such incidents as the Russians “playing games”.
“These are games, in effect”.
The initially unidentified jets were detected flying over the Atlantic in worldwide airspace on Thursday evening.
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A Foreign Office spokesperson said the incident was part of an “increasing pattern of out of area operations by Russian aircraft”.
