Throughout the current month of August, the Armed Forces of the United States and Canada are carrying out a major deployment of assets, personnel, and capabilities in Alaska. The scale of the military maneuvers, involving thousands of troops, a hundred aircraft of various types, and a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier together with its Carrier Air Wing (CVW) and escorts, has prompted a response from the Russian Armed Forces, which have been deploying signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft in Alaska’s ADIZ, presumably to collect information on the combined exercise.
Since the beginning of August, the U.S. and Canada have initiated the mobilization phase of various units and assets from their Armed Forces, both stationed in Alaska and from other parts of their continental territories. The military maneuvers are officially designated as Exercise Northern Edge 2025, notable for the significant scale and size of the forces involved.
During its execution phase a few days ago, U.S. Air Force Brigadier General and exercise director Rick Goodman stated: “Northern Edge 2025 brings together multi-domain capabilities in high-end combat to ensure readiness to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary (…) One of the key objectives [of the exercise] is command coordination between INDOPACOM and NORTHCOM. This highlights the importance of Alaska as a key strategic geographic location for national defense as well as for power projection in the event of conflict in the Indo-Pacific.”
In concrete terms, 6,500 U.S. and Canadian military personnel have been mobilized, along with one hundred combat aircraft —including fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, as well as electronic warfare and support aircraft— also featuring the presence of the nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), together with its CVW and Strike Group escorts.
Specifically, Canada has deployed the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334), as well as an Airbus CC-150 Polaris tanker aircraft.
Accordingly, as reported by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have been deploying IL-20 Coot-A signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft in Alaska’s ADIZ for several days.
It should be noted that the ADIZ should not be confused with sovereign airspace, “…but rather refers to a defined stretch that begins where sovereign airspace ends and extends over international airspace, established as a zone where the rapid identification of incoming aircraft is required as part of established security protocols,” as we have noted in past instances.
However, although Russian intelligence-gathering aircraft operate in international airspace, their presence in Alaska’s ADIZ prompts the deployment of U.S. and Canadian Air Force combat and support aircraft.
As officially detailed by NORAD, on both August 20 and 21, just days after the start of the Northern Edge 2025 execution phase, Il-20M aircraft flights were detected in Alaska’s ADIZ, prompting the response of F-16 fighters supported by KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft and even E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft.
NORAD stated that no violations of the sovereign airspace of either country have been recorded, noting that the Russian aircraft activity was limited to international airspace.
*Cover photograph used for illustration purposes.
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