Norwegian F-35s Encounter Russian Su-27 Fighters Near Arctic

The Royal Norwegian Air Force deployed two F-35A fifth generation fighters on Quick Reaction Alert to intercept two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and their escort of two Su-27 Flanker fighter planes. The F-35 pilots located and identified the Russian aircraft, and closely monitored their movements to collect key intelligence and ensure that they did not enter NATO airspace. Head of the Air Force Major General Oivind Gunnerud elaborated on the operation: ”Our Quick Reaction Alert mission in the High North is essential for our national defence and NATO’s collective security. The ability to react swiftly ensures the safety of our airspace and highlights the strength of our allied forces in maintaining peace and stability.” Norwegian F-35s have encountered Russian aviation assets at far greater rates than those in the fleets of other operators, with encounters with Russian bombers and MiG-31BM interceptors being the most common. The Norwegian fleet previously faced a very steep performance disadvantage against more capable Russian combat aircraft like the MiG-31BM and Su-27 when it relied on ageing variants of the lightweight F-16 fighter, with the transition to the F-35 from 2015 having revolutionised the combat potential of its fighter units.

The Su-27 formed the backbone of the Russian Air Force throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with over 300 of the aircraft having been fielded. It was prioritised to be retained when all other tactical combat jets saw the bulk of their fleets retired after the USSR’s disintegration. The fighter class was considered the most capable in the world during the Cold War, and demonstrated significant advantages in simulated engagements over its most advanced Western rival the American F-15. Its standing today, however, is significantly less impressive, and its radar, although large, is considered effectively obsolete by the standards of the 2020s. The fighter boasts a superior flight performance and much longer range than the F-35, but its ageing avionics and radar guided missiles are expected to be highly susceptible to jamming in the event of an engagement. The F-35’s stealth capabilities, armaments, sensors and data sharing capabilities are expected to provide overwhelming superiority. Russia has largely phased the Su-27 out of service, although initial plans to replace them with Su-57 fifth generation fighters were frustrated by major delays to the program, and as a result most of the fighters were replaced by modernised derivatives of the same design – the Su-30SM and Su-35. The Su-27 is expected to have been fully phased out of the fleet by 2030.