In a series of tweets early tuesday
morning, NORAD said the raptors
intercepted a pair of Russian 295 bear, bombers escorted by Su-35 fighters. NORAD said it also identified a Russian A-50 Airborne early warning and control
aircraft supporting the other russian
planes that loitered in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone and came
within 30 nautical miles of Alaska's
shore.
NORAD said that all russian aircraft
remained in international airspace and
at no time entered u.s or canadian
airspace.
NORAD forces remain on alert the 24th of
july 365 to respond to potential threats
to Canada in the United States, NORAD Commander General Vlenn van Hurk said in
a tweet. The agility and readiness of our
personnel ensures we are successful in
addressing potential aerospace threats
with the appropriate response at the
right time.
Later that morning russia's ministry of
defense tweeted a video of the encounter
from their pilot's perspective.
Russia said the flight was a scheduled
12-hour flight over neutral waters of
the bering sea between Russia and Alaska, as well as the Akotsik, Chukshi, and Beaufort Seas.
NORAD regularly intercepts Russian
aircraft in the international airspace
around Alaska and most encounters pass
without serious incident.
The air force also has conducted
multiple bomber flights in areas around
russia, such as over the East Siberian Sea, Ukraine and the Black Sea.
But tensions sometimes arise from these
encounters. In august the U.S Military
accused Russian military planes of
conducting unsafe intercepts of B-52
stratofortress bombers as they were
being flown over all 30 NATO nations.
NATO also said that a russian fighter
committed a significant violation of a NATO nation's airspace while conducting
another intercept of a B-52 over the Baltic Sea.
