Russian MiG-31 Fighter Jet Intercepts Norwegian Aircraft Over Barents Sea

The day before, the National Defence Management Centre stated that Russia's MiG-31 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept a Royal Norwegian Air Force plane over the Barents Sea.

The Russian military stated on Wednesday that one of its MiG-31 fighter jets intercepted a Norwegian Aircraft over the Barents Sea.

"On August 26, Russian air control systems detected an air target approaching the Russian state border over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea. ... a MiG-31 fighter jet from the air defense forces of the Northern Fleet was scrambled to identify the air target and prevent it from crossing the state border," the statement said.

The crew of the Russian fighter from a safe distance identified the object as a basic patrol aircraft R-3C Orion of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

"After the foreign military aircraft turned away from the Russian state border, the Russian fighter returned safely to the home base. The entire flight of the Russian fighter MiG-31 was conducted strictly in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace," the statement said.

The Norwegian plane was prevented from crossing the Russian state border.

Scrambling jets to intercept foreign aircraft has become a regular occurrence with five such incidents in the last seven days. Four out of these five cases took place over the Baltic Sea.