The National Center for Defense Management of the Russian Federation reported that there was no violation of the state border.
According to TASS, the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation told reporters that the Russian MiG-31 fighter was raised to escort a Norwegian Air Force patrol aircraft over the Barents Sea. According to the military, on Saturday, Russian airspace control over the sea area detected an air target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation.
“To identify the air target and prevent violation of the state border of the Russian Federation, a MiG-31 fighter from the air defense forces of the Northern Fleet was taken into the air. The crew of the Russian fighter identified the air target as a Norion Air Force R-3C Orion patrol aircraft and escorted it over the Barents Sea”, the center said.
They noted that no violation of the state border of the Russian Federation was allowed. The center stressed that after the foreign military aircraft turned away from the state border of the Russian Federation, the Russian fighter safely returned to the home airfield.
“The flight of the Russian fighter was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace,” the center said.