The North American Aerospace Defense Force issued a statement Saturday that it had intercepted six Russian aircraft flying off the coast of Alaska.
In a press release about Thursday’s incident, NORAD said it “detected, tracked, positively identified and intercepted six Russian aircraft operating within and near the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).”
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“The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter the sovereign airspace of the United States or Canada,” the statement added. “These flights occurred at a time when several planned large-scale U.S. military exercises were underway in Alaska.”
According to the press release, the Russian aircraft were Tu-95 bombers, IL-78 tankers and Su-35 fighters.
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An F/A-18 Hornet attack fighter intercepts one of two Russian Tu-95 Bear long-range bombers approaching the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Nimitz south of Japan on February 9, 2008. (U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Russian aircraft were intercepted by F-16s, F-22s, KC-135 Stratotankers and E-3 AWACS.
The press release explained that such Russian activity “occurs regularly” and “is not considered a threat.”
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NORAD estimates that there are an average of six to seven Russian aircraft intrusions each year within the ADIZ.
