Russia’s Su-30 fighter intercepted two Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters and an aerial refueling tanker of the French air force, which were approaching the Russian border, Russia’s Southern Military District said.
According to the military, Russian radars detected aerial targets approaching the Russian border over the neutral Black Sea waters earlier on Tuesday.
“A Su-30 fighter was scrambled to identify the targets and prevent illegal border crossing … The crew of the Russian fighter identified the aerial targets as two Mirage-2000 tactical aviation aircraft and one S-135 aerial refueling tanker of the French air force, and escorted them over the Black Sea,” the Southern Military District said, stressing that the illegal crossing of the Russian border was prevented.
Additionally, Russia’s MiG-31 fighter also intercepted an Orion patrol aircraft of the Norwegian air force over the Barents Sea, which was moving towards the Russian border, the Northern Fleet said.
This is the fourth foreign military aircraft intercepted close to the Russian border in a day. Prior to that, Su-30 fighter intercepted France’s three military aircraft over the Black Sea.
According to the Northern Fleet, an air target heading to the Russian border was spotted over the Barents Sea.
“To identify the air target and prevent an illegal crossing of the state border, a MiG-31 fighter was scrambled … The crew of the Russian fighter identified the air target as a P-3C Orion base patrol aircraft of the Norwegian air force and escorted it over the waters of the Barents Sea,” the Northern Fleet told reporters.
After the foreign military aircraft turned away from the Russian border, the MiG-31 fighter returned to its home airfield, the Northern Fleet specified.
