Over 100 Russian bomber incursions in Icelandic airspace
A British Typhoon fighter jet and a Russian Tupolev 95 bomber. Photo: UK Ministry of Defence
Over the past ten years, 48 cases of Russian bombers entering Icelandic airspace have been recorded – a total of 107 aircraft.
These 2006-15 figures were given to Icelandic MPs back in February by the then Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson. Reports suggest that at least two more Russian bombers have entered Icelandic airspace so far this year.
Such incursions do not constitute a breach of international law, as none of these bombers have strayed into Iceland’s 12-mile airspace zone.
That said, there have been instances of Russian bombers switching off the sensors in their aircraft which alert authorities of their presence, according to Sveinsson. Radar images do, however, show when aircraft have entered Icelandic airspace.
