Norway's F-16 Fist Interception of Russian Airplane in Nato Baltic Air Policing Mission

The Norwegian F-16 aircraft sent to guard Nato’s eastern border have had their first run-in with a Russian aircraft, after an Antonov An-22 transport aircraft came close to entering Lithuanian airspace.
The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace continually, giving the Norwegian pilot no cause to intervene. But it did not have its transponders on, as this is not a requirement for aircraft travelling through international airspace.
Norway on Thursday took over the revolving Nato mission in the Baltic States, which it will carry out for the next four months.
Italy, the last country to have the job, sent its fighters out no fewer than 60 times in four months to intercept Russian planes.
In December a Norwegian F-16 found itself in a near collision with a Russian MiG, which suddenly appears at its right.
thelocal