Alaska (BN24) – U.S. fighter jets intercepted a Russian military aircraft operating near Alaska on Sunday, marking the third such encounter in the past week, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
In a statement, NORAD said one E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft, two F-16 fighters and two KC-135 Stratotankers were dispatched to the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, known as ADIZ, after radar detected a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane.
The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not cross into U.S. or Canadian territory, NORAD said. The command emphasized that such activity in the ADIZ occurs regularly and “is not considered a threat” to North America.
An ADIZ is a defined stretch of international airspace beyond a nation’s sovereign boundaries where all aircraft must identify themselves for national security reasons. The Alaskan ADIZ serves as one of the key perimeters where U.S. and Canadian forces routinely monitor Russian military movements.
Sunday’s interception follows two similar incidents earlier in the week. On Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, NORAD deployed F-16 fighters to intercept Russian Il-20 aircraft also operating in the ADIZ.
“NORAD employs a layered defense system of satellites, ground-based radars, airborne surveillance, and fighter aircraft to detect, track and respond to unidentified or foreign aircraft,” the command said, noting that its readiness posture remains constant. “NORAD remains prepared to employ a range of response options in the defense of North America.”
The latest string of interceptions highlights the continued monitoring of Russian military activity in the Arctic and Pacific regions, which U.S. defense officials have said is expected to persist as tensions remain high between Washington and Moscow.
