On March 10, 2025, during NATO's large-scale exercise Joint Viking 2025 in Troms, Norway, two Norwegian F-35 Lightning jets took off from Evenes airbase to identify and shadow two Russian Tu-142 Bear F reconnaissance aircraft operating in international airspace nearby. The Russian planes were attempting to surveil NATO exercise activities, prompting Norwegian intercept and tracking operations as part of routine defense measures. The Norwegian Armed Forces publicly confirmed the intercept, emphasizing that such flights are routine during NATO exercises, reflecting continued vigilance amid heightened regional tensions between NATO and Russian military forces.

On March 10, 2025, during NATO's large-scale exercise Joint Viking 2025 in Troms, Norway, two Norwegian F-35 Lightning jets took off from Evenes airbase to identify and shadow two Russian Tu-142 Bear F reconnaissance aircraft operating in international airspace nearby. The Russian planes were attempting to surveil NATO exercise activities, prompting Norwegian intercept and tracking operations as part of routine defense measures. The Norwegian Armed Forces publicly confirmed the intercept, emphasizing that such flights are routine during NATO exercises, reflecting continued vigilance amid heightened regional tensions between NATO and Russian military forces.