The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled nine military aircraft to intercept a Russian formation off the coast of Alaska. On Thursday evening, two Tu-95 strategic bombers, two Su-35 fighters, and an A-50 early warning aircraft were detected in the Air Defense Identification Zone. The Americans dispatched modern F-35 and F-16 fighters, among others, which escorted the Russian aircraft over international waters until they left the monitored security zone.
Russian Formation over Alaska
Five aircraft from the Russian Federation were detected, including two Tu-95 bombers capable of carrying cruise missiles, operating in the ADIZ zone.
Massive Response from U.S. Fighters
The Americans scrambled a total of 9 aircraft, including modern F-35 Lightning II fighters and four KC-135 tankers supporting them.
No Airspace Violation
The military confirmed that the Russian units remained in international airspace and were safely escorted until they left the zone.
Global Increase in Activity
Concurrently, a confrontation with Chinese aviation over the Yellow Sea was noted, along with the movement of F-15 fighters to the Middle East.
On Thursday evening local time, a serious aerial incident occurred near the borders of United States airspace. NORAD reported detecting five Russian units in the ADIZ zone off the coast of Alaska. The Russian formation consisted of two Tu-95 strategic bombers, two Su-35 fighters, and a rarely seen A-50 early warning aircraft. Similar incidents have occurred regularly since the Cold War, but the frequency of Russian long-range aviation flights near NATO borders has increased significantly after 2014.In response to the approaching foreign aircraft, the U.S. Air Force launched a powerful group of nine aircraft. The American team included two F-16 and F-35 fighters each, an E-3 AWACS early warning aircraft, and four KC-135 tanker aircraft, which provided fuel support during the operation. Military representatives emphasized that the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace throughout and did not violate the sovereign territory of any country. Simultaneously with the events in the north, media reports indicate rising tensions in other regions of the world. Over the Yellow Sea, a rare encounter occurred between the air forces of the U.S. and China, where approximately 10 American F-16s from Osan Air Base in South Korea operated near Chinese aircraft. Additionally, open-source data analysis suggests increased U.S. logistical activity in Jordan, which may indicate a redeployment of forces toward the Middle East. The Tu-95 aircraft, known in NATO code as "Bear," are designs from the 1950s, but thanks to modernizations, they remain a pillar of Russian strategic aviation capable of carrying nuclear weapons.The situation off the coast of Alaska was considered by experts to be a routine, albeit demonstrative, action by Moscow, aimed at testing the response time of defense systems under the Pentagon. NORAD command assured that it monitors all activity in the region and has appropriate means to protect the continent's coasts.