Two CF-18 Hornets, two F-35 Lighting II, and two F-16 Fighting Falcons fighter aircraft from NORAD positively identified and intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on July 24, 2024. NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept.
Senator Lisa Murkowski described the event as an “unprecedented provocation by our adversaries”, adding that it was “the first time they have been intercepted operating together.”
The Russian and PRC aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian and PRC activity in the Alaska ADIZ is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence.
An ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security.
#Chinese #PLAAirForce released video of joint flight with #Russian #nuclearbomber over Alaskan skies.
— Extrema Ratio (@ExtremaRatio4) July 26, 2024
This is the first time for the #UnitedStates that fighter planes, mainly #Chinesebombers, have appeared in the #Alaskan air #defensezone. pic.twitter.com/APDcvQ6Bn5
NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars and fighter aircraft in seamless interoperability to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions.