F-35s scrambled after Russian fighter jets and bombers ‘fly close to NATO airspace’

Norwegian F-35s intercepted Russian bombers and fighter jets as they approached “NATO airspace.”

NATO’s Air Command reported two Tu-160 bombers, two MiG-31 fighter jets with two II-78 fuel tankers were intercepted.

After Norwegian five generation F-35 fighter jets intercepted the Russian warplanes, they returned back to the Russian Federation.

NATO Air Command wrote on X, “Norwegian F-35[s] scrambled yesterday from Evenes, Norway due to Russian aircraft flying close to NATO Allied airspace.

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“The fifth generation fighters identified two Tu-160 Bombers, two MiG-31 and two Il-78 Midas. The Russian aircraft returned to Russia shortly after meeting the F-35s.”

On Friday Vladimir Putin sent supersonic strategic nuclear bombers to fly north of the Shetland Isles.

🇳🇴 F-35 scrambled yesterday from Evenes, Norway due to Russian aircraft 🇷🇺 flying close to #NATO Allied airspace

The 🇳🇴 5th Gen fighters identified 2 Tu-160 Bombers, 2 MiG-31 & 2 Il-78 Midas. The 🇷🇺 Aircraft returned to Russia shorty after meeting the F-35s#SecuringTheSkies pic.twitter.com/dIWlnMveI2

— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) November 17, 2023

The move is seen as an attempt to intimidate the UK by staging the military exercises in the Norwegian Sea and the British Isles.

Moscow said the flights are “routine” exercises without entering the UK’s airspace in an intimidatory move as tensions are the highest since the Cuban missile crisis and the Cold War.

The long-range Tupolev Tu-160 and the Tupolev Tu22M3 bomber carried out 13 hours of exercises and were escorted by a Su-30M and a MiG-31 fighter aircraft.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the aircraft flew over international waters of the Barents Sea and the Black Sea.

The Russian MoD said: “Planes of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ long-range aviation have performed routine flights in airspace over international waters of the Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea and Black Sea.

Tu-160 strategic bombers and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took part in the missions.