Two Pacific Fleet MiG-31BM high-altitude fighter jets trained to intercept a mock enemy aircraft as part of an unscheduled inspection.
"The violator of airspace role was performed by the Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft of the naval aviation of the Pacific Fleet, which attempted to approach a detachment of military ships in order to bomb them," the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The representatives of the ministry stressed that the crews of fighter jets carried out a search and classification of the target, and then made electronic launches of long-range air-to-air missiles.
Also the pilots worked out elements of air combat with mock enemy jets protecting the "enemy" bombers.