The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled U.S. fighter jets Thursday after detecting Russian military aircraft operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), a buffer area off the U.S. coastline. According to a statement, NORAD deployed two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3 surveillance aircraft, and four KC-135 refueling tankers to identify and monitor the aircraft until they exited the zone.
NORAD said the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign territory. The command identified two Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets, and one A-50 airborne early warning aircraft during the encounter. Officials noted that similar activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs periodically and is not currently viewed as a direct threat.
An Air Defense Identification Zone is not considered sovereign airspace but serves as an early-warning area where approaching aircraft are expected to identify themselves. NORAD said it maintains a layered defense system using satellites, radar, and fighter aircraft to detect and track potential aerial activity near North America.
The incident comes amid broader global military movements. The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group recently deployed toward the Mediterranean region, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln and other naval assets.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called for restraint in ongoing regional tensions, emphasizing diplomatic solutions. U.S. officials have not indicated any direct connection between the Alaska intercept and developments in other parts of the world.