Norwegian F-35s intercepted a flight of Tu-160s and MiG-31BMs supported by Il-78M tankers participating in a 16-hour patrol in Norway and the Barents Sea.
NATO aircraft from Norway, France and Portugal tracked and escorted an array of Russian aircraft, including Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bombers, MiG-31BM fighters, Il-78M aerial refueling aircraft and Tu-154Bs, in separate intercepts in the Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea and Baltic Sea region.
The two Tu-160s were escorted by at least two MiG-31s and supported by Il-78Ms. The package is part of what is described as a 16-hour patrol of Norway and the Barents Sea, the Russian Ministry of Defense (RuMoD) reported in an official statement dated June 23, 2026. Zvezda News Website.
RuMoD confirmed the squadron was “escorted by foreign fighter jets” but gave no further details. However, NATO Air Command later confirmed on 25 June that the fighter was an F-35A of the Evenes-based Royal Norwegian Air Force (RoNAF), flying on a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) mission.
In the same post, NATO said the Tu-154B was intercepted by French Air Force Space Force (FASF) Rafales on the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission in Šiauliai, Lithuania. It is unclear who was intercepted by the Portuguese F-16s deployed for the BAP mission at Emari, Estonia.
The 2/2 video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense also shows an Il-78M tanker that supported the mission, a MiG-31BM interceptor that escorted the Tu-160M1 during certain parts of the flight, and a NATO (possibly RoNAF) F-35A stealth multirole fighter jet that flew the QRA mission. pic.twitter.com/oXOaBOZ1qk
— Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) June 23, 2026
intercept
Russian military aviation analyst Guy Plopsky put the number of intercepted Tu-160M1s at two: “Vasilky Senko” (Bort number: “11” Red / RF-94114) and “Vladimir Sudets” (BN: “15” / RF-94108). Flight video and images released by the Russian Ministry of Defense (RuMoD) on its official website Zvezda NewsIt shows footage of the Tu-160’s cockpit interior and other flight footage.
Footage taken from inside the Tu-160’s cockpit clearly shows the Il-78M’s oddly placed UPAZ-1M hose-and-drogue refueling pod. The pods are placed on the left side of the rear fuselage rather than on the centerline like other tankers, and two more UPAZ-1M pods are fitted under each wing.
Other in-flight footage shows the MiG-31BM on the starboard (right) side and the MiG-31 on the port (left) side, the latter a few meters away from a RoNAF F-35A. In one of NATO’s images, a RoNAF F-35A is also visible between a Tu-160 and a MiG-31.
RuMoD’s statement reads:
“The Tu-160 strategic missile carriers of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ long-range aviation performed regular flights over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The aircraft flew about 16 hours in the air. During the flights, the crews of the Tu-160 strategic bombers practiced refueling in flight. Fighter escort was provided by the crews of the Russian Aerospace Forces MiG-31 aircraft. At certain stages of the route, the strategic bombers were escorted by foreign fighters. During the flights, the Tu-160 strategic bombers The bomber crews practiced refueling in flight and were escorted by foreign fighters at certain stages of the route.
In connection with another intercept, a FASF Rafale C appears to be escorting a Tu-154B, flying to port and carrying four air-to-air missiles (two MICA IR and two MICA RF). However, Portugal’s F-16s are not visible in any images released by NATO.
The three-engine Tu-154B is rarely intercepted and is used by the Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) as VIP transport. The aircraft intercepted over the Baltic Sea may have been carrying Russian soldiers and/or senior officers flying to and from the enclave of Kaliningrad.
NATO’s post said:
“Over the past few days, a Portuguese F-16 fighter jet deployed to Emari, Estonia, a Norwegian Rapid Response Alert F-35 aircraft deployed to Evenes, Norway, and a French Rafale fighter jet deployed to Šiauliai, Lithuania, have all flown separate missions to identify Russian military aircraft flying near NATO airspace.”
Busy day for @NATO air police ✈️
In the past few days, Portuguese🇵🇹 F-16 fighter jets have been deployed to Emari, Estonia, Norway🇳🇴 Rapid Response Alert F-35 aircraft have been deployed to Evenes, Norway, and French🇫🇷 Rafale fighter jets have been deployed to Šiauliai, Lithuania, all flying separate sorties… pic.twitter.com/Rp9JWLSIwf
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) June 25, 2026
Other blocking
NATO also reported that on June 11, FASF Rafales shot down an unidentified drone and a Portuguese F-16 escorting another Russian aircraft heading into Latvian airspace. These intercepts occurred while the Alliance’s Ramstein Flag exercise was underway.
The unknown UAS was later seen in infrared footage released by the French Joint Chiefs of Staff, appearing to be a pusher-propeller aircraft with a twin tail boom configuration. No drone engagement was indicated.
Even as the Ramstein flag continues in full force, NATO Allied air forces remain ready to respond immediately to real-time situations. Portuguese 🇵🇹 F-16s and French 🇫🇷 Rafale fighter jets flew sorties on separate occasions as part of a NATO air security mission over the Baltic Sea… pic.twitter.com/Jws66F4cHC
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) June 11, 2026
Meanwhile, Russian aircraft intercepted by Portuguese F-16s included Il-76, Il-78, and Il-20M Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft.
