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Norway Scrambles F-35s to Confront Russian Recon Jet Near NATO Airspace

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Photo of Ivan Khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
Norwegian F-35 fighter jets during NATO’s Cold Response exercise over Norway, March 2022. (Source: Getty Images)
Norwegian F-35 fighter jets during NATO’s Cold Response exercise over Norway, March 2022. (Source: Getty Images)

Two Norwegian F-35 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Barents Sea on Tuesday morning, according to Altaposten via RBC-Ukraine on October 21.

Residents of the northern Norwegian town of Alta reported hearing two loud explosions around 11:18 a.m., followed by noticeable vibrations in nearby buildings and windows.

The Norwegian Air Force later confirmed that the sounds were sonic booms caused by the F-35s as they exceeded the speed of sound during the interception mission.

“I can confirm that two F-35s were flying, and the explosions occurred when they broke the sound barrier. I can’t say more at this time,” Norwegian Air Force spokesperson Major Stian Roen told Altaposten.

The Norwegian Air Force stated that the aircraft were launched under the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) program—an operational readiness mission to identify and monitor foreign aircraft approaching national or NATO airspace. During the flight, the two F-35s identified a Russian Il-20 operating in international airspace north of Finnmark.

“The Russian aircraft was detected in international airspace north of Finnmark. It was a routine operation without any dramatic elements,” the Norwegian Air Force Command said in an official statement.

Russian reconnaissance aircraft such as the Il-20 frequently patrol near NATO borders. In recent years, allied air forces have regularly scrambled fighters to identify and shadow Russian military planes approaching the airspace of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Baltic states.

Earlier, The Telegraph reported that NATO is considering new rules of engagement that would allow member states to shoot down Russian aircraft carrying missiles without warning if they enter allied airspace. The proposal aims to unify response protocols across the alliance and follows recent airspace violations by Russian jets and drones.

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