NORAD intercepts four Russian planes near Alaska as NATO tensions rise
Fighters identified two Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters, staying in international airspace; the episode adds to a pattern of near-Alaska activity amid broader NATO-Russia tensions.
NORAD said its fighters intercepted four Russian military planes detected off Alaska on Wednesday; the aircraft stayed in international airspace and did not cross into U.S. or Canadian territory. The episode marks the third such occurrence in roughly a month and the ninth this year in which NORAD has tracked Russian aircraft near Alaska.
The planes were two Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters. A response package including an E-3 aircraft, four F-16s, and four KC-135 tankers was deployed to identify and intercept the Russian aircraft.
Officials noted the detection took place within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, a stretch of international airspace adjacent to U.S. and Canadian sovereign airspace. The ADIZ is monitored by NORAD, and the zone requires aircraft identification for security purposes.
As NATO members confront Russian air incursions, policymakers have debated how to respond to such violations. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump urged NATO allies to shoot down Russian planes that violate member airspace. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte backed the idea on Thursday, saying members should consider such action if other options have been exhausted and it is deemed necessary. Last week, three Russian jets entered Estonia’s airspace for about 12 minutes, according to the Estonian government; Russia denied violating Estonian airspace. NATO said it responded immediately by intercepting the aircraft. Hours after those events, Polish and allied military aircraft scrambled after Russia launched an aerial attack on Ukraine near its western border with Poland. Poland later reported shooting down Russian drones after 19 airspace violations; Russia denied the incursion, saying it had carried out a large-scale strike in Ukraine but that no targets were envisioned for destruction on Polish soil. Poland and Estonia invoked Article 4 of NATO’s treaty, prompting formal consultations among alliance members.
The episode underscores ongoing vigilance in North American and European airspace as Moscow pursues military activity near NATO borders.