Norwegian F‑35s intercept Russian Il‑20 near Finnmark border
Norwegian F-35 fighters intercepted a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 spy plane near the Finnmark region. The country's armed forces command dispatched two F-35 multirole aircraft.
The Norwegian Armed Forces responded to the presence of a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 spy plane, known by NATO code as Coot-A, conducting reconnaissance near the Finnmark region.
In response, two standby F-35 fighters were dispatched from the Evenes base near Narvik to identify the Russian aircraft.
Increasing activity of Russian aircraft
The Russian Il-20 was intercepted in international airspace, close to Norway's borders. The Norwegian Air Force Command emphasized that although the operation was routine, similar actions by Russia are becoming increasingly frequent.
Since the spring of 2024, when Sweden and Finland joined NATO, the activity of Russian reconnaissance and spy aircraft in the northern Scandinavian region has significantly increased.
