British Royal Air Force Typhoons scrambled twice over one day to intercept several Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace, the UK's Ministry of Defense said in a statement Friday.

On Thursday evening: RAF Typhoons based at Amari Air Base in Estonia and Swedish Air Force Gripens sought to intercept a Russian Air Force IL-20 "Coot- A" and Su-27 "Flanker-B" flying close to NATO and Swedish airspace, the ministry said.

"The Russian aircraft were not complying with international norms by failing to communicate with the relevant Flight Information Regions (FIRs), however they remained in international airspace and flew in a professional manner," the statement said. On Friday morning: RAF Typhoons were scrambled again to intercept one Antonov An-12 "Cub" and one An-72 "Coaler" flying south from mainland Russia toward the Kaliningrad region, the ministry said.

"The RAF fighters were later re-tasked to intercept two Tupolev Tu-22M ‘BACKFIRES’ and two Su-30 SM FLANKER H, also flying south from mainland Russia over the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea," the ministry said. "The Russian aircraft were once again not complying with international norms by failing to liaise appropriately with local FIRs."The British were joined by the Finnish Air Force to escort the Russian aircraft through the Gulf of Finland and later handed off to the Swedish Air Force.

"Portuguese and Romanian F16s, based out of Siauliai Airbase in Lithuania, were also scrambled to escort the Russian aircraft as they transited further south through the Latvian and Lithuanian FIRs," the UK ministry added.

“These intercepts are a stark reminder that the RAF is always ready to defend our skies and those of our allies, while the coordinated action by several air forces serves as a clear demonstration of the value of our international alliances," UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace is quoted as saying in the statement.A pilot who was involved with the scramble said that "although there is an apparent increase in regional activity, these intercepts remain normal jogging for us and we are ready to respond to any task that may pose a threat to regional security," according to the statement.

NATO is currently conducting naval exercises in the Baltic Sea and, "as expected, Russian aircraft have been monitoring allied vessels throughout," the ministry said.