Tally ho, cabbage crates at four o'clock!

The information was released by the UK's Ministry of Defence and came complete with pictures of the RAF planes performing an interception in clear blue skies.

The Russian planes, flying with transponders turned off, were flying in international airspace close to the Estonian border and were identified as two Su-27 Flanker fighters and an IL-20 ‘Coot-A’ Reconnaissance aircraft.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "For the second time in a week, the RAF have been on hand to respond to Russian activity at a moment’s notice. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we will continue to secure the Baltic skies on behalf of NATO and our allies."

An unnamed Typhoon pilot was reported to have said: "The Baltic Control and Reporting Centre had radar contact on the unidentified aircraft and ordered us to scramble, as always we were airborne in minutes and intercepted and identified the variety of Russian military aircraft. We remain on standby all day, every day to respond to any requests of this nature, this is what we do."

Four RAF Typhoons are based at the Amari airbase in Estonia and will remain on Baltic Air Police duties until the end of August, supported byPortugese F-16s based in Siauliai in Lithuania.

Meanwhile the US Navy has released additional footage of Russian aircraft buzzing US destroyer USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea.

In Russia meanwhile, the Defense Ministry said it was celebrating the anniversary of its Baltic fleet on May 18.