From Peterson Space Force Base in the United States, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced that it had detected and tracked two Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighters, and one A-50 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft belonging to the Russian Aerospace Forces operating within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). According to Russian sources, the mission consisted of a scheduled flight over neutral waters of the Bering Sea, lasting approximately 14 hours and conducted in full compliance with applicable international regulations.
Expanding on the details, in order to intercept the deployed aircraft, the U.S. Air Force scrambled two F-35 stealth fighters, supported by two F-16s, an E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, and four KC-135 Stratotankers that provided aerial refueling. According to NORAD, this response enabled the identification of the Russian assets involved and their escort to ensure they did not enter U.S. sovereign airspace—an activity described as routine given the frequency with which such events occur in the region.
Addressing the matter, NORAD’s statement noted: “The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter United States or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat. An ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security.”
In a subsequent section, NORAD emphasized that it maintains a layered defense network in the region to ensure the security of both Canada and the United States, including a wide array of satellites, ground- and air-based radar systems, and combat aircraft such as those deployed in this instance.
Returning to the Russian Ministry of Defense’s account, the operation was likewise characterized as routine, similar to flights frequently conducted around the Arctic, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea—although such missions do not typically include an A-50 AEW&C aircraft. Moscow acknowledged that U.S. aircraft tracked the formation during the flight but reported no incidents. It also noted that due to the long duration of the mission, aerial refueling maneuvers were required.
Image credits: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
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