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Russian fighters shadow Norwegian and US spy planes over Barents and Black Seas

The Russian fighters shadowed the reconnaissance aircraft at a safe distance and the flights proceeded in compliance with the international rules of using the airspace, Russia’s National Defense Control Center stressed

© Marina Lyistseva/TASS

MOSCOW, July 14. /TASS/. Russian fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Norwegian Air Force P-3C Orion reconnaissance plane over the Barents Sea and US Navy and Air Force P-8A Poseidon and RC-135 spy aircraft and a MQ-9A Reaper drone over the Black Sea, Russia’s National Defense Control Center reported on Tuesday.

Russian airspace control systems detected air targets over the Barents and Black Sea flying towards the Russian state border on July 14, the statement says.

"Fighter jets from the air defense quick reaction alert forces of the Northern Fleet and the Southern Military District were scrambled to identify and intercept the targets," the Center said.

The Russian fighters shadowed the reconnaissance aircraft at a safe distance and the flights proceeded in compliance with the international rules of using the airspace, Russia’s National Defense Control Center stressed.

"After the reconnaissance aircraft moved away from Russia’s state border, the Russian fighters returned to their airfields," the Center said.

No violations of Russia’s state border were allowed, it stressed.

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