Two Norwegian Air Force F-35 fighters took off on high alert from Evenes air base in the north of the country to intercept Russian military aircraft operating in international airspace over the Barents Sea.
The mission involved the take-off of two Norwegian F-35As to identify and escort two strategic bombers Tupolev Tu-95 Bear Haccompanied by two fighters Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker M.
One of the Su-35S involved bore the identifier “53 BLUE” and belongs to the Russian Knights aerobatic group, Russia’s traditional air demonstration team.
The presence of an aircraft from this squadron on an operational mission attracted attention and was compared to a hypothetical scenario in which the Blue Angels of the United States escorted an armed strategic bomber.
Interception as part of normal operational activities
According to the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret), the operation took place on Thursday 27 February in the context of the NATO mission dedicated to aerial surveillance in the Arctic.
During the action, the F-35s identified and visually escorted:
- Two Tu-95 Bear H strategic bombers
- Two Su-35S Flanker M fighters
The interception took place in international airspace over the Barents Sea, without violating Norwegian airspace.
According to the official press release, this is an activity considered routine, but fundamental for regional security. Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions are part of NATO’s ongoing strategy to monitor air movements near the alliance’s borders.
Arctic Sentry mission and surveillance in the Arctic
The operation is part of surveillance efforts related to the “Arctic Sentry”, aimed at monitoring military activities in the Arctic region, considered strategic for both Russia and NATO countries.
Evenes Air Base in northern Norway plays a central role in this alert system and is one of the main readiness points for interceptions in the far north of Europe.
The Norwegian authorities underlined that, although this type of interception is recurrent, each mission is conducted with a high level of readiness and professionalism, ensuring the protection of allied airspace and regional stability.
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Source and images: Norwegian Armed Forces | Forsvaret (@Forsvaret_no). This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
Today, two Norwegian F-35s at @NATO mission identified and shadowed two Russian Tu-95 Bear H bombers and two Su-35 Flanker M fighters in international airspace over the Barents Sea – a routine activity, but an important part of monitoring and safeguarding our region #ArcticSentry pic.twitter.com/irnU1cXGN3
— Norwegian Armed Forces | Defense (@Forsvaret_no) February 27, 2026
