RAF Typhoons have been deployed on about 10 occasions since the start of last year to intercept Russian aircraft as they approach UK airspace.
The biggest danger they are trying to avert is not to military targets, but to civilian airliners.
Here, the team at RAF Lossiemouth explain why.
"The two Russian aircraft intercepted and shadowed on Saturday were a Tupolev Tu-142 Bear-F and a Tupolev Tu-142 Bear-J.
"The Bear-F is an anti-submarine warfare aircraft while the Bear-J is a communications relay platform.
"They pose two potential problems.
"These aircraft often don't talk to air traffic control and may not be 'squawking', which means broadcasting a code seen by other aircraft.
"As their intentions are unknown, controllers reroute civilian traffic to ensure they are safely separated and deconflicted.
"Acting as a communications relay, the Bear-J trails a very long 'trailing wire antenna'. This antenna can extend out almost five miles, and poses a potential risk to anything flying in its trail if not managed by air traffic controllers.
"Not only do our Typhoons act as a deterrent to this activity, but they can make themselves visible to air traffic controllers and Battlespace Managers.
"Ultimately, we are not just securing the skies, but making them safer for other airspace users."
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