In recent days, Russia has sent a fleet of Tu-95MS, Su-30, and Su-35S aircraft into the airspace near Alaska. This move prompted the US Air Force to dispatch F-16s to monitor the situation. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, two Tu-95MS bombers carried out a planned flight over international airspace in the Bering Sea, near the west coast of Alaska. The flight lasted over 11 hours and was escorted by fighter jets.
The US Air Force closely followed the Tu-95MS with an F-16 fighter while Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S monitored the rear. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the Russian Strategic Air Force routinely operates in international airspace in various regions, including the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and Pacific Ocean. They do so in compliance with international regulations.
NORAD reported that Russian military aircraft were present in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) but emphasized that they remained in international airspace and did not violate US airspace. NORAD clarified that Russian military activities in the Alaska ADIZ were regular and not deemed as a threat. Since 2007, Russian military aircraft have regularly entered the Alaska ADIZ without breaching US airspace. Both Russia and the US engage in professional and safe monitoring activities when aircraft approach each other’s territories.