Fighter jets scrambled from a Scottish RAF station due to unidentified aircraft approaching UK airspace.
Typhoon jets from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray were called out on Monday morning.
UPDATE The ‘unidentified aircraft’ were two Tu-160 and one Il-62 to Venezuela.
The RAF said the fighters were scrambled as a “precautionary measure”, but no intercept took place and the Typhoons returned to base.
They launched from RAF Lossiemouth with the Meteor air-to-air missile for the first time.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier said: “RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighters are now armed with the most advanced air-to-air missile in the world.”