NATO planes were scrambled after a Russian jet was spotted over the Baltic Sea and off Norway

Italy and Norway quickly mobilized jets after Russian jets were spotted over the Baltic Sea and off the coast of Norway on Tuesday.

The Italian Air Force intercepted a Russian Coot-A aircraft over the Baltic Sea, NATO Allied Air Command said in a social media post.

Norwegian Air Force F-35s have identified several Russian aircraft flying in international airspace off the country’s coast, NATO said.

Both the Norwegian and Italian air forces were attacked under NATO authority, the command said. NATO did not provide any information about what the Russian plane may have been doing, but said it “does not follow international practice” when the planes are being deployed.

Russian warplanes have been spotted several times in recent months. In Julythe United States has intercepted Russian and Chinese aircraft at an international airfield off the coast of Alaska. In February 2024, the US found four Russian warplanes flying in the same area. Several Russian planes have been spotted inside May again February 2023.

Part of Norway is in the Arctic Circle, where Russia is reinforced its military activities, including advanced exercises hypersonic missilesin recent months. The Baltic Sea is also close to the Arctic Circle.