A news report from the journalist owned Independent Barents Observer online newspaper claims that the group of Russian Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer tactical bombers simulated an attack on Norwegian Arctic radar.
According to the newspaper, flying in attack formation, the group of eleven Su-24 strike aircraft from Russian Monchegorsk air base on the Kola Peninsula made a mock attack on Norwegian Arctic radar.
The Sukhoi Su-24, codenamed “Fencer” by NATO, is a supersonic, twin-engine, all-weather attack aircraft. It carries a crew of two: the pilot and a weapons system operator.
The dramatic simulated attack happened on February 14th, 2018, Director of Norway’s Intelligence Service, Lieutenant General Morten Haga Lunde, told the audience in his annual speech for the Oslo Military Society on Monday.
«Russia’s rhetoric against Norway has grown sharper,» the intelligence director said.
«Russia’s military activity in our region signals dismay with Norway,» Haga Lunde said and stressed that there are «no indications that relations between Russia and the West will improve in 2019.»
Morten Haga Lunde also added that the scenario of simulated attack was very similar to what took place on March 24th, 2017, but this time with more aircraft, in total 11 Fencer planes.
Located on a small island on the Barents Sea coast, Vardø is traditionally a fishing town, but its location close to Russia’s heavy militarized Kola Peninsula makes it a perfect location for radar surveillance.
The so-called Globus-II radar has for decades been a torn in relations between Moscow and Oslo. Officially the radar observes objects in space. It is also believed to be highly capable of monitoring and building a signature database of Russian ballistic missiles.