Two Norwegian F 35 aircraft sent to identify Russian aircraft

Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold / Forsvaret / NTB

Two Norwegian F 35 aircraft at Evenes were sent on an assignment to identify Russian aircraft activity on Wednesday.

The planes are on so-called QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) at Evenes near Harstad.

This is the first time since the Norwegian F-35 took over the QRA contingency for NATO at Evenes that they were sent out on an assignment to identify Russian aircraft activity.

The planes were sent out after the Sørreisa control and warning station discovered that several Russian planes flew out from the Kola coast and in a westerly direction, the Armed Forces announced.

Beriev A-50 Shmel identified

The Norwegian aircraft identified a Russian aircraft of the type Beriev A-50 Shmel (NATO reporting name: Mainstay). The plane was in international airspace at the time, the newspaper Adresseavisen.

The planes followed the Mainstay for a while before returning to Evenes. The group of Russian planes split, with some returning to Kola and some continuing south in the Norwegian Sea. 

“The identification shows that the F-35 works in the new emergency preparedness role. Through this preparedness (work), we take care of a very important job for NATO, and (it is) a mission we are well prepared for and continuously ready to address,” Air Force chief Rolf Folland stated.

Source : © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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