MOSCOW. Aug 24 (Interfax) - The Russian Northern Fleet has scrambled a MiG-31 interceptor as a Norwegian P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane was spotted approaching the Russian border in the Barents Sea, the Russian National Defense Control Center said in a statement.
"Russian air surveillance systems detected an airborne target approaching the Russian state border over the waters of the Barents Sea on August 24. [...] A Russian fighter jet identified the airborne target as a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane of the Norwegian Air Force," the statement said.
A MiG-13 aircraft of the Russian Northern Fleet was scrambled to identify the airborne target and prevent a violation of the Russian airspace from happening, it said.
Once the Russian MiG-31 came close, the foreign warplane turned away from the Russian border, and no violation of the state border was allowed to happen, the statement said.
"The Russian fighter jet performed its flight in strict compliance with international airspace regulations over neutral waters without crossing airways or dangerously approaching the aircraft of a foreign state," it said.