On Tuesday morning, two Norwegian F-35 fighter jets were dispatched to intercept a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Barents Sea, resulting in sonic booms that were heard and felt by residents of Alta. The Norwegian Air Force confirmed that the F-35s were scrambled under the Quick Reaction Alert program to identify and monitor the Russian aircraft operating in international airspace north of Finnmark. This operation is considered routine, as Russian reconnaissance aircraft often patrol near NATO borders, prompting allied air forces to regularly monitor such activity. Furthermore, there have been discussions within NATO regarding new rules of engagement, potentially allowing member states to shoot down Russian aircraft that carry missiles without warning if they enter allied airspace.
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On Wednesday, NORAD tracked two Tu-95 strategic bombers and two Su-35 fighters within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), deploying an E-3 Sentry surveillance plane, F-16 Fighting Falcons, and KC-135 aerial tankers to intercept them. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace, and the activity is considered routine, though this instance marks the first since August 26th. This follows recent reports of Russian aircraft breaching Estonian airspace, and overall incidents are up to 12 in 2024, leading to increased vigilance among U.S. and European allies.
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RAF fighter jets were scrambled twice in less than 48 hours to intercept Russian aircraft that approached NATO airspace. This highlights the ongoing tension and the constant vigilance required to protect the alliance’s borders. While this might seem like a dramatic event, these kinds of interceptions aren’t uncommon; they’ve been a regular occurrence for decades, a silent, persistent aspect of maintaining security since the end of World War II and the establishment of NATO. The increased media attention now doesn’t necessarily reflect a change in frequency, but rather a shift in public perception or perhaps the news cycle needing a story.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood