Burak Bir
12 March 2026•Update: 12 March 2026
LONDON
Norwegian Air Force fighter jets were scrambled for two consecutive days after sensors detected Russian military aircraft in international airspace off Finnmark, the country's armed forces said Wednesday.
In a statement, the Norwegian Armed Forces said Norwegian sensors detected Russian Il‑20M aircraft off Finnmark’s coast Tuesday and Wednesday.
"NOR F‑35s from Evenes scrambled, identified and shadowed them," said the statement.
It noted that in both incidents, the Russian military aircraft flew in international airspace off Finnmark.
"Such events are routine and expected, particularly during large exercises like Cold Response, which is currently taking place in northern Norway," said the statement.
Earlier Wednesday, two Norwegian F-35 fighter jets on standby took off from Evenes Air Station after the aircraft -- an Ilyushin Il-20M, which is used by the Russian military for reconnaissance and surveillance -- was flying with its transponder switched off but was routinely detected by Norwegian sensors.
The Norwegian Armed Forces said an Ilyushin Il-20M flew in international airspace off Finnmark which was also identified and shadowed by two Norwegian F-35s on Tuesday before it turned north from Soroya and returned to the Kola Peninsula.
