Norwegian jet fighters scrambled 34 times

Norwegian F-16 jet fighters were scrambled 34 times in 2011 to identify Russian aircraft approaching Norwegian territory.

A total of 48 aircraft, mostly strategic bombers, were identified in these missions.

This means that Russian activity last year was about the same as in 2010, says press officer John Espen Lien at the Norwegian Armed Forces’ Joint Head Quarter to Avisa Nordland.

In 2010 Norwegian F-16 fighters were sent out to meet Russian aircraft 36 times, as BarentsObserver reported.

Russian planes identified by Norwegian forces are mainly of the Tupolev-95 (BEAR-H) and Tupolev-160 (BLACKJACK) classes.


Source: 08 January 2012 - Daily Air Force News (www.dailyairforce.com)

Photo: The Norwegian Air Force  F-16 jet fighters were scrambled  (Photo by dailyairforce.com)

(8.01.2012)