There are an increasing number of observations lately of Russian jetfighters and bombers on missions along the Norwegian coast. So far this year 75 Russian aircraft have been identified by Norwegian jet fighters.

- We must go back to the end of the cold war, to find a similarly high activity, says Commander Lars Saunes of the Joint Operative Headquarter at Bodø.

At the end of the 1990s, Russian aircraft were observed only three to four times a year close to Norwegian territory, while last year the number reached 87 observed Russian aircraft. 

As late as last week, two Russian strategic "Bear H" bombers flew along the Norwegian coast from Finnmark in the north to the south coast of Norway, carrying out in-flight re-fueling on the way, NRK reports.

(NRK)

Rolleiv Solholm