Two Tu-160 strategic bombers undertook a 10-hour flight over the Barents and Norwegian Seas on Wednesday, drawing the attention of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
The Russian Defence Ministry issued a statement ahead of the flight, saying: “Two strategic Tu-160 Russia missile launchers are carrying out a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian seas.
“The total duration of the flight will be around ten hours, after which the Russian Air Force teams will carry out a landing at their base.
“Pilots regularly fly over natural waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Pacific.
“All Russian Air Force flights are conducted in strict conformity with international rules in relation to the use of aeronautical space, without violating the borders of other countries.”
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the jets were shadowed by Norwegian F-16s during some stages of the flight, and noted both aircraft returned to their base following the exercise.
The Tupolev Tu-160 aircraft are supersonic, strategic bombers, which were the last models of their type to be designed for the Soviet Union.
They are the largest and heaviest Mach 2+ supersonic aircraft ever designed, and second longest behind the XB-70 Valkyrie.
The Russian Air Force currently has 16 TU-160s in active service, but a modernisation programme is currently underway, with 10 further Tu-160M2 aircraft on order.
NATO has expressed increasing concern over Russia’s military build-up in the Arctic, due to Russia’s growing interest in the region’s invaluable oil and gas reserves, and shipping routes.
Norway is currently playing host to NATO’s largest joint military exercise since 2002, and involves 29 NATO members, along with Finland and Sweden.
Around 40,000 troops from 30 countries are carrying out air, sea and land operations for two weeks close to the Russian border.
Oslo also persuaded the US administration to more than double the number of US marines in Norway, with many being sent to Troms, an arctic region located close to Russia.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide noted there was no reason to be worried of a build up in tension in the Arctic region, but warned conflict could spread there if it develops elsewhere.
She said: “We see that there is no reason to believe that potential tension could start in the Arctic, but it could easily end up here if it starts elsewhere.
“And that is of course due to Russia building up their military capacity, especially on the Kola Peninsula.”
Russia expressed their anger over Norway’s military developments, and warned that it could trigger an arms race.
The Russian Embassy in Oslo said: “This makes Norway less predictable and could cause growing tensions, triggering an arms race and destabilising the situation in northern Europe.
“We see it as clearly unfriendly, and it will not remain free of consequence.”