RAF fighter jets were scrambled on Tuesday over fears a suspected long-range Russian bomber was nearing British airspace.
Two Typhoons were deployed from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and were accompanied by a Voyager refuelling plane from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
The unidentified aircraft had been tracked heading to the UK on radar, but remained outside UK airspace with no interception taking place. The Typhoons have since returned to base.
Britain’s involvement in tracking the aircraft was part of a wider response by Nato allies, defence sources told The Telegraph.
It comes after John Healey issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin last week, when he revealed Russian attack and spy submarines had been operating in the North Atlantic.
The defence secretary said Britain had been responding to “increased Russian activity” after Moscow had conducted a “covert operation” near crucial UK cables and pipelines.
In a message to Mr Putin, Mr Healey said: “We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines, and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.”
The Russian leader has repeatedly challenged the UK by sending ships, submarines, and oil tankers to British waters.
Earlier this month, it also sent a warship to escort sanctioned oil tankers through the English Channel, The Telegraph reported. It followed a warning from Sir Keir Starmer that Britain would seize sanctioned vessels sailing in UK waters.
Mr Healey said: “In response to the Russian submarines, I can confirm that I deployed our armed forces to track and to deter any malign activity by these vessels. A Royal Navy warship and Royal Air Force P8 aircraft alongside allies ensured that the Russian submarines were monitored 24/7. The Akula submarine subsequently retreated home, having been closely tracked throughout, and we continued to monitor the two GUGI submarines in and around wider UK waters.
“Our armed forces left them in no doubt that they were being monitored, that their movements were not covert, as President Putin planned, and that their attempted secret operation had been exposed. Those GUGI submarines have now left UK waters and headed back north.”
Last week, the prime minister said the UK “will not shy away from taking action and exposing Russia’s destabilising activity that seeks to test our resolve”.
Sir Keir added: “Our armed forces are among the best in the world, and the British public should be in no doubt that this government will do whatever it takes to defend our national and economic security, wherever in the world that is needed.”
