Norwegian F-35s intercepted a flight of Tu-160s and MiG-31BMs, supported by an Il-78M tanker, which had been concerned in a 16-hour patrol over the Norwegian and Barents Seas.
NATO plane from Norway, France and Portugal tracked and escorted a sequence of Russian plane, together with Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bombers, MiG-31BM fighters, an Il-78M aerial refueling plane and a Tu-154B in separate intercepts over the Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea and Baltic Sea areas.
The 2 Tu-160s had been escorted by a minimum of two MiG-31s, and supported by the Il-78M. The package deal was a part of what has been described as a 16-hour patrol over the Norwegian and Barents Seas, the Russian Ministry of Protection (RuMoD) reported on Jun. 23, 2026, on its official Zvezda Information web site.
The RuMoD confirmed that the formation was “escorted by fighter jets of international nations,” however didn’t present particulars. Nonetheless, the NATO Air Command subsequently recognized on Jun. 25 the fighters as F-35As of the Royal Norwegian Air Pressure (RoNAF), based mostly at Evenes, that had been scrambled for a Fast Response Alert (QRA) mission.
In the identical publish, NATO confirmed that French Air and Area Pressure (FASF) Rafales from the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission in Šiauliai, Lithuania, intercepted the Tu-154B. It’s not clear who was intercepted by the Portuguese F-16s deployed for the BAP mission at Ämari, Estonia.
2/2 Footage launched by the Russian MoD additionally reveals an Il-78M tanker plane that supported the mission, MiG-31BM interceptors that escorted the Tu-160M1s at sure components of their flight, and NATO (presumably RoNAF) F-35A stealth multirole fighters that carried out a QRA mission. pic.twitter.com/oXOaBOZ1qk
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 23, 2026
The intercepts
Russian army aviation analyst Man Plopsky put the variety of Tu-160M1s intercepted at two – “Vasilky Senko” (Bort No: “11” Pink / RF-94114) and “Vladimir Sudets” (BN: “15” / RF-94108). The video and pictures of the flight by the Russian Ministry of Protection (RuMoD), launched on the official Zvezda Information, reveals footage from contained in the Tu-160’s cockpit and different in-flight footage.
The footage from contained in the cockpit of the Tu-160 additionally reveals a transparent view of the Il-78M’s oddly positioned UPAZ-1M hose-and-drogue refueling pod. The pod is positioned on the left facet of the rear fuselage, as an alternative of the centerline as different tankers, whereas two extra UPAZ-1M pods are carried below every of the wings.
Different in-flight footage confirmed a MiG-31BM on the starboard (proper) facet and a MiG-31 on the port (left) facet, with the latter separated by a number of meters from the RoNAF F-35A. In one of many photographs by NATO, the RoNAF F-35A can be seen between the Tu-160 and the MiG-31.
The assertion by the RuMoD mentioned:
“Tu-160 strategic missile carriers of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ Lengthy-Vary Aviation performed a scheduled flight over the impartial waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The plane spent roughly 16 hours within the air. Through the flight, the crews of the Tu-160 strategic bombers practiced in-flight refueling. Fighter escort was supplied by crews of MiG-31 plane of the Russian Aerospace Forces. At sure levels of the route, the strategic bombers had been escorted by fighter jets from international nations. Through the flight, the crews of the Tu-160 strategic bombers practiced in-flight refueling. Fighter escort was supplied by crews of MiG-31 plane of the Russian Aerospace Forces. At sure levels of the route, the strategic bombers had been escorted by fighter jets from international nations.”
Concerning the opposite intercepts, the FASF Rafale C is seen escorting the Tu-154B, flying on its port-side and carrying 4 air-to-air missiles – two MICA IR and two MICA RF. The Portuguese F-16s nonetheless can’t be seen in any of the imagery launched by NATO.
The tri-engine Tu-154B is never intercepted, and is used within the Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) for VIP transport. Intercepted over the Baltics, the plane could have been carrying Russian army personnel and/or senior officers to and from the exclave of Kaliningrad.
NATO’s publish mentioned:
“Within the final couple of days Portuguese F-16 fighters deployed to Ämari, Estonia, Norwegian Fast Response Alert F-35 plane from Evenes, Norway, and French Rafale fighters deployed to Šiauliai, Lithuania had been all scrambled on separate missions to determine Russian army plane flying near NATO airspace.”
Busy days for @NATO Air Policing ✈️
Within the final couple of days Portuguese🇵🇹 F-16 fighters deployed to Ämari, Estonia, Norwegian🇳🇴 Fast Response Alert F-35 plane from Evenes, Norway, and French🇫🇷 Rafale fighters deployed to Šiauliai, Lithuania had been all scrambled on separate… pic.twitter.com/Rp9JWLSIwf
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) June 25, 2026
Different intercepts
NATO additionally reported on Jun. 11 the shoot down by FASF Rafales of an unidentified drone heading into Latvian airspace, and Portuguese F-16s escorting different Russian plane in separate incidents. These intercepts occurred when the alliance’s Train Ramstein Flag was underway.
The unknown UAS was later proven in infrared footage launched by the French Joint Workers, and gave the impression to be a pusher-propeller plane with a twin-tail growth configuration. The engagement of the drone was not proven.
Whilst Ramstein Flag continues at full scale, NATO Allied air forces stay prepared to answer real-world occasions at a second’s discover. Portuguese 🇵🇹 F-16s and French 🇫🇷 Rafale fighters had been scrambled on separate events as a part of NATO Air Policing missions over the Baltic… pic.twitter.com/Jws66F4cHC
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) June 11, 2026
The Russian plane intercepted by the Portuguese F-16s in the meantime included an Il-76, an Il-78 and an Il-20M Indicators Intelligence (SIGINT) plane.
