Norwegian F-35s intercepted a flight of Tu-160s and MiG-31BMs, supported by an Il-78M tanker, which were involved in a 16-hour patrol over the Norwegian and Barents Seas.
NATO aircraft from Norway, France and Portugal tracked and escorted a series of Russian aircraft, including Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bombers, MiG-31BM fighters, an Il-78M aerial refueling aircraft and a Tu-154B in separate intercepts over the Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea and Baltic Sea regions.
The two Tu-160s were escorted by at least two MiG-31s, and supported by the Il-78M. The package was part of what has been described as a 16-hour patrol over the Norwegian and Barents Seas, the Russian Ministry of Defense (RuMoD) reported on Jun. 23, 2026, on its official Zvezda News website.
The RuMoD confirmed that the formation was “escorted by fighter jets of foreign countries,” but did not provide details. However, the NATO Air Command subsequently identified on Jun. 25 the fighters as F-35As of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RoNAF), based at Evenes, that were scrambled for a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) mission.
In the same post, NATO showed that French Air and Space Force (FASF) Rafales from the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission in Šiauliai, Lithuania, intercepted the Tu-154B. It is not clear who was intercepted by the Portuguese F-16s deployed for the BAP mission at Ämari, Estonia.
2/2 Footage released by the Russian MoD also shows an Il-78M tanker aircraft that supported the mission, MiG-31BM interceptors that escorted the Tu-160M1s at certain parts of their flight, and NATO (presumably RoNAF) F-35A stealth multirole fighters that performed a QRA mission. pic.twitter.com/oXOaBOZ1qk
— Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 23, 2026
The intercepts
Russian military aviation analyst Guy Plopsky put the number of Tu-160M1s intercepted at two – “Vasilky Senko” (Bort No: “11” Red / RF-94114) and “Vladimir Sudets” (BN: “15” / RF-94108). The video and images of the flight by the Russian Ministry of Defense (RuMoD), released on the official Zvezda News, shows footage from inside the Tu-160’s cockpit and other in-flight footage.
The footage from inside the cockpit of the Tu-160 also shows a clear view of the Il-78M’s oddly placed UPAZ-1M hose-and-drogue refueling pod. The pod is placed on the left side of the rear fuselage, instead of the centerline as other tankers, while two more UPAZ-1M pods are carried under each of the wings.
Other in-flight footage showed a MiG-31BM on the starboard (right) side and a MiG-31 on the port (left) side, with the latter separated by several meters from the RoNAF F-35A. In one of the images by NATO, the RoNAF F-35A is also seen between the Tu-160 and the MiG-31.
The statement by the RuMoD said:
“Tu-160 strategic missile carriers of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ Long-Range Aviation conducted a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The aircraft spent approximately 16 hours in the air. During the flight, the crews of the Tu-160 strategic bombers practiced in-flight refueling. Fighter escort was provided by crews of MiG-31 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces. At certain stages of the route, the strategic bombers were escorted by fighter jets from foreign countries. During the flight, the crews of the Tu-160 strategic bombers practiced in-flight refueling. Fighter escort was provided by crews of MiG-31 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces. At certain stages of the route, the strategic bombers were escorted by fighter jets from foreign countries.”
Regarding the other intercepts, the FASF Rafale C is seen escorting the Tu-154B, flying on its port-side and carrying four air-to-air missiles – two MICA IR and two MICA RF. The Portuguese F-16s however cannot be seen in any of the imagery released by NATO.
The tri-engine Tu-154B is rarely intercepted, and is used in the Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) for VIP transport. Intercepted over the Baltics, the aircraft may have been carrying Russian military personnel and/or senior officers to and from the exclave of Kaliningrad.
NATO’s post said:
“In the last couple of days Portuguese F-16 fighters deployed to Ämari, Estonia, Norwegian Quick Reaction Alert F-35 aircraft from Evenes, Norway, and French Rafale fighters deployed to Šiauliai, Lithuania were all scrambled on separate missions to identify Russian military aircraft flying close to NATO airspace.”
Busy days for @NATO Air Policing ✈️
In the last couple of days Portuguese🇵🇹 F-16 fighters deployed to Ämari, Estonia, Norwegian🇳🇴 Quick Reaction Alert F-35 aircraft from Evenes, Norway, and French🇫🇷 Rafale fighters deployed to Šiauliai, Lithuania were all scrambled on separate… pic.twitter.com/Rp9JWLSIwf
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) June 25, 2026
Other intercepts
NATO also reported on Jun. 11 the shoot down by FASF Rafales of an unidentified drone heading into Latvian airspace, and Portuguese F-16s escorting other Russian aircraft in separate incidents. These intercepts happened when the alliance’s Exercise Ramstein Flag was underway.
The unknown UAS was later shown in infrared footage released by the French Joint Staff, and appeared to be a pusher-propeller aircraft with a twin-tail boom configuration. The engagement of the drone was not shown.
Even as Ramstein Flag continues at full scale, NATO Allied air forces remain ready to respond to real-world events at a moment’s notice. Portuguese 🇵🇹 F-16s and French 🇫🇷 Rafale fighters were scrambled on separate occasions as part of NATO Air Policing missions over the Baltic… pic.twitter.com/Jws66F4cHC
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) June 11, 2026
The Russian aircraft intercepted by the Portuguese F-16s meanwhile included an Il-76, an Il-78 and an Il-20M Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft.
