Military jets from RAF Lossiemouth were launched today after a Russian plane was detected approaching the UK.
Typhoons from the Moray base were scrambled to respond after the aircraft was detected off the coast of north-west Scotland.
The QRA (quick reaction alert) mission was the first to involve the air-to-air Voyager refuelling tanker that received a controversial red, white and blue makeover last month.
The plane remains available for military use as well as overseas trips by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the royal family.
A spokesman for RAF Lossiemouth said: “Typhoons on Quick Reaction Alert were scrambled as Russian long-range aviation approached UK airspace.
“Once our QRA Typhoons were airborne, the Russian aircraft turned away, and as such no interception was needed.
“Our Typhoons remained nearby to detect any further activity.”
Typhoons at RAF Lossiemouth are on the UK’s front line of defence with crews remaining ready to scramble at any time to respond to intruders and unidentified aircraft approaching the country’s airspace.