Popular Mechanics – Russian strike jets practiced a mock attack on a Norwegian radar base in 2018, flying uncomfortably close to the NATO country’s airspace before turning back. The incident, which took place in February 2018, was only just now brought to light by the director of Norway’s Intelligence Service.

According to the Barents Observer, the head of the Intelligence Service revealed details of the mock attack this week in a speech delivered in Norway earlier this week. Lieutenant General Morten Haga Lunde, head of the Intelligence Service, revealed that 11 Sukhoi Su-24 strike aircraft, known as “Fencer” to NATO, conducted the mock attack. According to Lunde, the simulated attack took place on February 14, 2018 and began with 11 Su-24s taking off from Russia’s Monchegorsk air base.

The Fencers flew out into the Barents Sea and then did a 180 degree turn, settling into attack formation as they bore down on a radar station in the Norwegian town of Vardø. Vardø is Norway’s northeasternmost town and home of the GLOBUS-II satellite tracking radar. As they neared Norwegian airspace, the Fencers suddenly turned back.

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