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US Jets Scramble to Intercept Russian Bombers and Fighters Near Alaska
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US fighter jets were scrambled to intercept four Russian aircraft near Alaska, CBS News reported on September 25, citing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
The formation included two Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) , international airspace bordering US and Canadian territory.
NORAD dispatched an E-3 early warning plane, four F-16s, and four KC-135 tankers to identify and monitor the Russian aircraft.
The command noted that such flights are common and not considered an immediate threat but often test US and NATO readiness, according to CBS News.
The incident comes amid heightened European alert following recent Russian airspace violations, including drone incursions in Poland and fighter jets over Estonia.
A similar Russian flight in late August prompted US jets to intercept Tu-95 bombers in the ADIZ, CBS News writes.
In September 2024, NORAD released striking footage showing a Russian jet flying “within just a few feet” of its aircraft near the Alaskan coast. A US general described the crew’s actions as “unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all.”
NORAD emphasized that the zone is designed for early identification of aircraft and that none of the Russian planes entered US or Canadian sovereign airspace.
Previously, Sweden’s Minister of Defense Pål Jonson announced that Swedish forces will engage and shoot down Russian aircraft if they cross into the country’s airspace.
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