Signalling sovereignty: Fighter jets train near Russian border
This is the new normal. Norway is no longer showing restraint in military muscle-flexing in the airspace close to Russia's military stronghold, the Kola Peninsula.
Russian military personell on watch could from deep into the Kola Peninsula see the Norwegian fighter jets flying back-and-forth high up in the blue skies just west of the two countries border on Friday.
The aircraft, a pair of F-35, made nearly ten circles over the border town of Kirkenes and the Varanger fjord, before returning west. The contrail blew east into Russian airspace over the Kola Peninsula.
"I can confirm that there are two F-35 fighter jets currently conducting completely normal training, including over Finnmark," says spokesperson for the Norwegian Air Force, Major Stian Roen to the Barents Observer.
Roen underlines that training is in accordance with approved procedures and regulations.
Before last winter, military aircraft were rarely seen in the skies above Norway's border area.
This winter and spring, F-35 from Evenes air base have been to the Varanger region several times.
Tensions are not that low anymore up north. Russia's illegal war against Ukraine causes ripple effects all along Europe's border with Russia, from Poland in the south to the Barents Sea in the north.
In the second half of June, Finland hosted the Atlantic Trident fighter jet exercise, with participating aircraft from the United States, United Kingdom and France. The planes then then training along Finland’s eastern border and the exercise included Rovaniemi airbase in Lapland.
A main reason for the Norwegian Air Force to fly more often over the Varanger area is to show that Norway has deterrence and is ready to defend all of its airspace amid higher tensions with Russia.
Although the Norwegian government in May said it would ease the country's self-imposed restrictions on NATO training in East-Finnmark region, there are still no allied weapons carrying aircraft so close to the Kola Peninsula.
"The fighter jets train throughout the year over large parts of Norway, including Finnmark, and the pilots have an annual training program where they train and practice to be ready when needed," Major Stian Roen explains.
