On Wednesday, US Air Force fighter jets were scrambled to escort four Russian military aircraft approaching Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported.
US fighter jets intercepted Russian aircraft off the coast of Alaska
According to the military, the aircraft involved were two Tu-95 strategic bombers and two Su-35 fighter jets. They were operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), an international airspace bordering the US and Canada.
Four F-16s, an E-3 airborne early warning aircraft, and four KC-135 air tankers were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. The goal was to accurately identify the Russian aircraft and monitor their route.
NORAD emphasized that such Russian Air Force activity in the Alaskan region is common and is not considered an immediate threat. However, the command acknowledges that such flights could be a test of the preparedness of the US and its NATO allies.
Russia invaded Estonian airspace
This is not the first such incident. In August, the US military scrambled fighter jets to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft in the same area. A year ago, NORAD published a video of a dangerous close encounter between Russian and US aircraft off the coast of Alaska.
The situation in the region remains tense in Europe. In September, Russian MiG-31Ks violated Estonian airspace, remaining there for approximately 12 minutes. Previously, Russian drones crossed into Poland, where they were shot down by NATO forces.
