US EditionNorwegian F-35s Intercept Russian Spy Aircraft During NATO Drill
Norwegian F-35s launched quick-reaction alert sorties to monitor Russian reconnaissance planes with transponders off during Cold Response 2026, averaging 38 missions yearly since 2022.
- On March 11, two Norwegian Air Force F-35s launched from Evenes Air Station to monitor a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M during the Cold Response 2026 exercise in northern Norway.
- Operating off Finnmark, the Ilyushin Il-20M flew in international airspace and entered the NATO exercise area, with Norwegian officials saying the flights gathered situational awareness during Cold Response 2026.
- Hans Martin Steiro explained that QRA missions sound an alarm and give fighter crews 15 minutes to be airborne, while Norwegian pilots average 38 QRA missions per year since 2022.
- The tracked route showed the Il-20M turning north off Vesterålen, flying south twice to Lofoten, and returning to the Kola Peninsula around 1.30 p.m., with Forsvaret calling the flights routine during large-scale exercises.
- During Cold Response 2026, NATO scrambled F-35s on two consecutive days after Russian aircraft were detected off Norway's coast, increasing operational pressure on Norway's QRA posture.
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kreiszeitung.de
hna.deNorway alerted F-35 fighter jets in a week on two days. The triggers were Russian reconnaissance aircraft near a NATO training area.
During the biggest NATO exercise of the year, a Russian spy aircraft appeared off Norway's coast. Norwegian F-35 fighter jets followed the aircraft hundreds of kilometers away.
Norway scrambles fighter jets for 2 consecutive days after Russian military aircraft detected
'Such events are routine and expected, particularly during large exercises like Cold Response, which is currently taking place in northern Norway,' says Norwegian Armed Forces - Anadolu Ajansı
Norwegian F-35s intercept Russian spy aircraft during NATO drill
EVENES, Norway — Norwegian F-35s intercepted Russian intelligence-gathering aircraft two days in a row during an ongoing NATO military exercise here.On March 11 at 9:30 am, the deep and distinctive rumble of two Norwegian fighter jets echoed across the silent, mountainous terrain here in northern Norway, where NATO forces are currently conducting part of the biennial Cold Response 2026 exercise.Seconds later, two F-35s from the Norwegian Air For…
On Thursday, March 12, the Norwegian Armed Forces reported the interception of a Russian aircraft. It is noteworthy that NATO's Cold Response exercise was underway at the time.
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