Two F-35A Lightning II fighter jets on a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) mission took off from Evenes Air Base on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, to identify a Russian aircraft flying near the coast of Norway.
The intercepted aircraft was a Tupolev Tu-142 (NATO reporting name “Bear F”) belonging to the Russian Aerospace Forces. The long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft was conducting a mission over the Norwegian Sea when it was escorted by the Norwegian fighters.
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According to released information, the interception involved a Tu-142MK with tail number 97, which carries a proper name honoring the Russian city of Vologda. The visual identification was carried out professionally and in accordance with standard NATO procedures for this type of operation.
The Royal Norwegian Air Force also reported that throughout 2025, 41 emergency sorties were conducted under the QRA mission, during which 53 foreign aircraft were intercepted and identified in airspace of interest to the country. These figures reflect the continued air surveillance activities on Europe’s northern flank amid an increased presence of Russian military aircraft in the region.
Source and images: X @selshevneren. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
