Russian military aircraft, including Tu-95MS bombers and Su-30 and Su-35S fighters, were recently spotted in the airspace near Alaska. This prompted the US Air Force to dispatch F-16s to monitor the situation. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that two Tu-95MS bombers carried out a planned flight over international airspace in the Bering Sea, near the west coast of Alaska, escorted by fighter jets.
The flight lasted over 11 hours and was closely monitored by an F-16 fighter of the US Air Force. Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S monitored the rear of the aircraft during their journey. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the Russian Strategic Air Force routinely operates in international airspace in various regions, including the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and Pacific Ocean, in compliance with international regulations.
The North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) reported the presence of Russian military aircraft in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), emphasizing that the aircraft remained in international airspace and did not violate US airspace. NORAD clarified that Russian military activities in the Alaska ADIZ were regular and not deemed as a threat. Since 2007, Russian military aircraft have regularly entered the Alaska ADIZ without breaching US airspace. Both Russia and the US engage in professional and safe monitoring activities when aircraft approach each other’s territories.
