NATO Jets Scrambled to Intercept Russian Aircraft Over Baltic Sea and Off Norway

NATO jets were scrambled on Tuesday to intercept Russian aircraft that were spotted over the Baltic Sea and off the coast of Norway, according to recent reports. The Italian and Norwegian air forces responded under NATO authority after detecting multiple Russian planes that were “not adhering to international norms”.

The incident is part of a series of recent encounters between NATO and Russian aircraft. Italian Air Force jets intercepted a Russian Coot-A jet over the Baltic Sea, while Norwegian Air Force F-35s identified multiple Russian aircraft flying in international airspace off the Norwegian coast.

This escalation follows other recent incidents involving Russian military activities near Western airspace. Just days before, British jets were scrambled to monitor a Russian reconnaissance aircraft, known as the Tupolev Tu-142 or Bear-F, flying close to U.K. airspace over the North Sea. The British Typhoons, supported by a Voyager refueling aircraft, ensured the Russian plane did not enter U.K. sovereign airspace.

These incidents reflect the heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations, particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Similar incidents have occurred in other regions, including Japan and the United States, where warplanes have been intercepted or warned to leave international airspace.

The Royal Navy also reported shadowing Russian military vessels passing through the English Channel this week, marking the second time in three months that Russian ships and aircraft have been detected within a week of each other.