NORAD intercepts Russian bombers near Alaska as Baltic airspace incursions draw NATO concern

Two Russian military aircraft formations were detected operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said, with two Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighter jets identified in international airspace. NORAD stressed that neither the Tu-95s nor the Su-35s crossed into United States or Canadian sovereign airspace, and noted the ADIZ begins where national airspace ends. The command described the maneuver as a regular activity—one that does not constitute a threat when conducted in international airspace, but merited routine identification and monitoring.

To ensure positive identification and deterrence, NORAD scrambled an E-3 AWACS and dispatched four F-16 fighters along with four KC-135 tankers to the area. The interceptor package allowed a visual and electronic identification of the Russian aircraft and served as a standard demonstration of readiness in the Alaskan ADIZ. NORAD reiterated that the operation was consistent with ongoing efforts to monitor activity in the zone and to prevent any misperception of intent by foreign aircraft operating near North American airspace.

The incident follows a pattern NORAD has described in past months: late last month, the command detected one IL-20 COOT maritime patrol aircraft in the Alaskan ADIZ and again responded with an E-3, two F-16s and two KC-135s to visually identify the aircraft as it operated in proximity to North America. The command noted that such activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not necessarily indicative of hostile intent. Alaska-based radar and air defense assets continue to monitor similar tracks as part of routine readiness measures in the region.

Beyond the Pacific, Russia has faced scrutiny for incursions into the airspaces of NATO members Estonia and Poland. On Sept. 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighters reportedly conducted an overflight of Estonia, engaging in back-and-forth maneuvers for more than 12 minutes before Italian F-35s pushed them away, according to two NATO sources. The incidents prompted Estonia to request a meeting of alliance members under Article 4, and officials described the situation as an escalatory moment for the alliance’s eastern flank. Analysts noted that this was a notable expansion of Russian air activity toward Baltic states close to Russia’s western borders.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the incursion as unprecedentedly brazen and said Russia’s attempts to test boundaries must be met with swift political and economic pressure. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking on behalf of the alliance, urged restraint but warned against allowing a dangerous pattern to develop, stating that member states stand ready to defend every inch of allied territory and that the alliance would respond to actions that threaten or undermine regional security. NATO allies convened earlier this week at Estonia’s invitation, a gathering that highlighted the alliance’s commitment to collective defense and reaffirmed the decision to maintain heightened readiness on allied frontiers.

Taken together, the Alaska activity and the Baltic incidents illuminate a broader climate of strategic signaling between Moscow and Western capitals. Officials have framed the episodes as demonstrations of force that nevertheless remain within the realm of long-standing interoperability and deterrence drills in international airspace. While Washington and its partners describe the Alaska events as routine and non-threatening, they also emphasize that the exercises are part of ongoing efforts to deter aggression, reassure allies, and preserve open skies across key theaters of Europe and North America.

As NATO and Western governments assess ongoing Russian behavior, analysts say the focus will likely stay on how effectively alliance deterrence and readiness measures translate into de-escalation on the ground and in the air. In Washington, Pentagon and NORAD spokespeople have repeatedly underscored that intercepts near North American airspace are designed to prevent miscalculations and to reinforce the message that allied airspace will be defended. The Baltic incidents, meanwhile, are likely to sustain ongoing discussions within alliance councils about force posture, allied airspace protection protocols, and potential sanctions or diplomatic responses intended to curb Russia’s escalating activity near member states.

With tensions showing resilience and regular cadence in both the Arctic and Baltic regions, officials say the strategic calculus centers on preventing misinterpretation of these actions as provocations while maintaining a robust deterrent posture. For now, NORAD and NATO affirm that their core objective remains clear: protecting airspace, ensuring safety, and signaling resolve in the face of a challenging security environment.

Meanwhile, Washington continues to track and respond to Russian air activities with allied partners, reinforcing the message that international skies remain open to lawful transit but under vigilant observation. The coming weeks are expected to bring further updates from NORAD on any additional incursions or unusual activity in North American airspace, as well as ongoing diplomatic exchanges within NATO regarding the Baltic region’s security posture and potential policy steps in response to Moscow’s broader strategic behavior.