Two NATO F-35 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept and identify a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying close to Norwegian airspace, the NATO Air Command confirmed on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the Russian IL-20 COOT-A was detected flying in international airspace over the Finnmark region, prompting a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) response by NATO forces.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the NATO Air Command released an image of the Russian aircraft, confirming that the interception was carried out without escalation.
Rising Tensions in European Airspace
This latest incident occurs amid a surge in Russian aerial provocations near NATO’s northern airspace. Over the past year, such encounters have become increasingly frequent, raising concerns about potential miscalculations between allied and Russian forces.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs called for a tougher NATO response, stating that “it is time to move from ‘air policing’ to full ‘air defense.’”
Last month, a NATO commander also indicated that the alliance may simplify engagement protocols for member states facing similar threats — potentially including the authorization to shoot down aircraft violating airspace security.
