The end of March brought with it confirmation of new long-range patrols carried out by personnel and assets of the Russian Armed Forces in strategic regions. To the flights recorded days earlier in the Sea of Japan, where MiG-31 interceptors armed with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were deployed, was added the confirmation, during yesterday’s day, March 31, that Tu-142MK patrol aircraft of the Russian Navy conducted new surveillance flights in the Arctic.
Although no further details were provided, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that the flights were carried out by personnel and assets assigned to the naval aviation of the Northern Fleet, while also being supported by Il-78M aerial refueling aircraft of the Aerospace Forces (VKS).
The sustained conduct of this class of flights, which are carried out in international airspace — on this occasion over the Barents Sea — is a clear demonstration of the importance Russia places on surveillance and patrol missions in this region, which is becoming increasingly relevant from a geostrategic perspective.
To cite some of the latest records, at the beginning of last March the presence of surveillance and reconnaissance flights by Tu-142M3 and Il-20M aircraft was confirmed, prompting the air forces of the United States, Canada, and Norway to deploy combat aircraft for their interception and identification.
Another notable case, although not in the Arctic region, also took place in international airspace over the Sea of Japan, where the deployment of MiG-31 interceptor fighters of the VKS was highlighted, with the particularity of conducting long-range patrols armed with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.
On each occasion, Russian authorities have stated that the flights carried out by military aircraft comply with current international regulations governing the use of international airspace, without violating the airspace of any country, but operating within the respective ADIZs established by those countries, thus triggering the aforementioned identification and interception protocols.
Cover photographs used for illustrative purposes.
You may also like: With the arrival of a Kilo II submarine and a corvette in Jakarta, Russia strengthens its military cooperation ties with Indonesia
