US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft, which was approaching Russian airspace over the Norwegian Sea on Friday, made a u-turn after Russia’s MiG-31 jet took off, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
According to the ministry, Russian airspace control detected an air target approaching the country’s airspace on Friday, and a MiG-31 took off to to identify the air target and prevent violation of the state border.
“The crew of the Russian fighter jet identified the air target as a US Navy P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft. When a Russian fighter approached, a foreign military aircraft made a u-turn from the State Border of the Russian Federation. Russian state border was not violated,” the ministry said in a statement.
This year, the Russian Defense Ministry deployed military jet aircraft multiple times to safeguard Russian airspace security and avert potential reconnaissance by the NATO.