NORAD F-16s Intercept Russian Bombers Near Alaskan Airspace

The two intercepted Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers remained in international airspace, never straying into U.S. or Canadian airspace, NORAD said.

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 06:08 PM ET

Verified

Two NORAD F-16s intercepted two Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers near Alaskan airspace, NORAD said. [Courtesy: US Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

NORAD intercepted two Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on October 17.
This incident marked the first acknowledged Russian bomber interception in the ADIZ in approximately two years, though other Russian aircraft have entered the zone more recently.
The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace, were not deemed a threat or provocative, and their activity is consistent with NORAD's routine monitoring and escort procedures.

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Two Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers were intercepted near Alaskan airspace this week, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

During the October 17 incident, the two bombers were “detected, tracked, positively identified and intercepted,” as they were “entering and operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ),” NORAD said in a statement.