The Russians scrambled fighters. Incident over the Norwegian Sea
"Devices for monitoring the airspace over the Norwegian Sea detected an airborne target approaching the national border of the Russian Federation," claims the country's defense ministry. The Russians scrambled fighters.
Many pieces of information provided by the Russian media or representatives of the government are elements of propaganda. Such reports are part of the information war led by the Russian Federation.
In a statement released by the Russian Ministry of National Defense, we read that in order to "identify an unknown aerial object" and "ensure protection of the state borders of the Russian Federation against potential violation", a decision was made to send MiG-31 fighters of the Northern Fleet's air defense force into the air, whose task is to guard the country's airspace.
American patrol plane
As added, the crew of the Russian fighter, upon reaching the place, was able to identify an unknown air object. "It turned out to be a P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft, belonging to the United States Navy" - claims the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is designed for detecting and destroying enemy submarines in patrol areas, for reconnaissance, participation in anti-ship and rescue operations - both in coastal areas and on the ocean.
The border was not violated
'As the Russian fighter was approaching the previously unidentified object, a foreign military aircraft decided to turn around and move away from the Russian Federation's national borders. Thanks to this, there were no infringements of the Russian Federation's territorial borders," - said in a statement published on Telegram.
The Russians emphasize that the "flight of the Russian fighter took place with full observance of international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters". The crew of the fighter "did not exceed any air routes, and also did not dangerously approach the aircraft of another country".
There was also room for propaganda: "all of this testifies to the professionalism and experience of the Russian air forces".
