Norwegian F‑35s intercept Russian spy plane near Finnmark
Norwegian F-35 fighters intercepted a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 spy plane near the Finnmark region. The armed forces command of Norway dispatched two F-35 multirole aircraft.
The Norwegian armed forces responded to the presence of a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 spy plane, known in NATO code as Coot-A, which was 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 spring 2024, when Sweden and Finland joined NATO, the activity of Russian reconnaissance and spy aircraft in the northern Scandinavia region has significantly increased.
