The flight of F-35 fighter jets of the Norwegian Air Force to meet the Su-35s from the Russian Knights aerobatic team is not related to fear of Russian aviation, but to routine work. This opinion was given by Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation, retired Major General Vladimir Popov.
Despite the use of the latest F-35s and elite Su-35s, the probability of a real collision was negligible, Popov believes.
A fight could only break out if Norway wanted to specifically create a provocative situation or if the pilot is mentally unhealthy. Neutral waters are taboo for everyone, so to speak.
Popov recalled that escort fighters approach closely to understand that everything is in order with the pilot.
Visually, the pilot can show with signs what is wrong with him, and ask, for example, to be escorted to the airfield. Or the pilot shows a thumbs up, and the fighters diverge, and there are no questions.
In early March, it became known that Tu-95MS missile carriers were flying over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea, accompanied by Su-35S. F-35s flew out from Norway to meet them.