Sources say the Kremlin ordered the overflight around the same time a £100m super yacht called Graceful, widely thought to belong to Putin, was en route to a Siberian safe haven

Defence secretary Dan Jarvis said that Vladimir Putin risked triggering a serious confrontation after it was revealed the aircraft came close to HMS Prince of Wales last week.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the operation

"This activity was unsafe and unprofessional," a U.K. Defense Ministry spokesperson said.