Two Typhoon fighter jets have been launched from RAF Lossiemouth to intercept Russian bombers heading towards the UK.
The Russian Bear aircraft were escorted away from Britain's area of interest but at no stage crossed into UK sovereign airspace.
A spokesman said: "RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft were launched today from RAF Lossiemouth after unidentified aircraft were tracked flying towards UK airspace.
"The aircraft were identified as Russian Bear aircraft which were escorted by the RAF Typhoon fighters until they were out of the UK area of interest.
"At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into UK sovereign airspace."
The RAF Typhoons were operating under a Nato command.
The Russian planes were spotted flying north of Scotland towards the UK. They were in international airspace throughout the incident.
The Bear bombers were not considered a threat at any time.
The incident is the latest in a string of approaches to Britain by Russian planes and ships in recent months.
In April, Typhoons out of Lossiemouth again intercepted Bear bombers flying near UK airspace, hours after HMS Argyll was deployed to monitor a destroyer and two other ships from the country as they passed through the English Channel.
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