Six British Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters on March 7 sortied to prevent Russian bombers approaching the country's airspace.

Russian bombers were spotted heading to the northwest coast of Scotland, according to a statement from the British Ministry of Defense. The move prompted the Air Force to dispatch three pairs of Typhoon fighters from the Rapid Response Warning program to stop them.

Four aircraft were launched from RAF Lossiemouth base in Moray, the other two took off from RAF Coningsby base in Lincolnshire. Flying in formation, two pairs of British fighter jets closed in on the Russian bombers before retreating. The third pair caused the Russian aircraft to divert.

Russian aircraft were later identified as Tupolev Tu-95 models, both serving as strategic bombers and performing long-range maritime patrol missions. The number of Russian aircraft involved in the incident was not disclosed.

"This is the usual response to Russian aircraft approaching British airspace and the interception was done in collaboration with other NATO allies," an RAF spokesman said.

Last month, a supposedly Russian bomber was also heading towards the Scottish Shetland Islands. RAF sent fighter jets but was not prevented by bombers still outside British airspace.