Russia deployed Su-35S fighter jets from the Knights of Russia aerobatic team for combat escort duties.
Norwegian F-35 fighter jets intercepted a group of Tu-95 bombers escorted by Su-35S fighter jets in combat configuration, part of the Russian Knights aerobatic team, over the Barents Sea.
The Norwegian Armed Forces have just released images of the interception of a group of Russian military aircraft operating in international airspace over the Barents Sea. Notably, among the escort aircraft were Su-35S fighter jets belonging to the renowned "Russian Knights" aerobatic team, but fully armed for combat missions rather than aerobatic displays.
Developments in the Barents Sea interception
According to information from the Norwegian military, the country's F-35 fighter jets were deployed to identify and escort two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and two Su-35S fighter jets. The incident occurred as part of a routine NATO patrol mission aimed at maintaining situational awareness in the alliance's border region.
The most significant difference in this encounter was that at least one Su-35S bore the distinctive livery of the "Russian Knights"—a unit known for performing demonstration flights at international events and national ceremonies. Instead of its performance configuration, this aircraft was configured for combat and carried actual air-to-air missiles.
Analyzing the deployment of performance units into combat situations.
Military expert Ilya Tumanov, administrator of the Fighterbomber aviation channel, confirmed that pilots belonging to the "Russian Knights" group have long been involved in direct military missions. However, they previously often used standard Su-35S aircraft instead of the aircraft bearing the specific aerobatic insignia.
The use of aircraft typically reserved for "parade" missions in combat patrols demonstrates the Russian Air Force's efforts to optimize its resources. According to Militarnyi's assessment, although Russia continues to produce the Su-35S, the need for continuous combat operations may have led to the deployment of equipment from demonstration units to alleviate the burden on the main combat squadrons.
The Norwegian military asserts that the Russian aircraft fully complied with international law and did not violate Norway's airspace sovereignty throughout their flight.
