Russian naval aviation conducted air defense exercises in the Murmansk region, which borders Finland and Norway, both of which are part of the NATO alliance. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the mixed aviation corps of the Northern Fleet practiced intercepting a simulated intruder into Russian airspace.
During the exercises, deck-based fighters successfully detected and intercepted the airborne target. The crews identified the object and conducted a safe escort before the simulated enemy aircraft turned away from the Russian border. The Russian fighters then returned safely to their base.
This exercise follows November’s drills over the Barents Sea, where MiG-31 interceptors practiced intercepting simulated threats in the stratosphere. An article in the US military magazine, Military Watch, previously highlighted the capabilities of the Northern Fleet’s supersonic, high-altitude, all-weather MiG-31 interceptors in neutralizing any NATO threat.
In a historic move, Finland recently led NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea for the first time in history. These exercises continue to showcase Russia’s commitment to maintaining its air defense capabilities and readiness in the Arctic region.
