U.S Fighter Jets Scrambled After Russian Military Aircraft Detected Near Alaska

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has scrambled U.S. and Canadian fighter jets after detecting two Russian military aircraft operating near North American airspace.

Officials said NORAD tracked two Russian TU-142 military aircraft flying inside the Alaskan and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) on March 4, 2026.

The aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign territory.

Fighter Jets and Surveillance Aircraft Deployed

In response to the detection, NORAD launched a large air response to identify and monitor the Russian aircraft.

The mission included:

  • Two U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jets

  • Two F-22 fighter jets

  • Four KC-135 aerial refueling tankers

  • One E-3 AWACS surveillance aircraft

  • Two Canadian CF-18 fighter jets

  • One Canadian CC-150 tanker aircraft

According to NORAD, the aircraft were deployed to positively identify, monitor, and intercept the Russian planes while they operated within the ADIZ.

Russian Aircraft Stayed in International Airspace

NORAD emphasized that the Russian aircraft did not violate North American sovereign airspace.

“The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace,” the command said.

Officials added that Russian military activity in the Alaskan and Canadian ADIZ occurs regularly and is not considered a direct threat.

Similar Incident Occurred Last Month

The latest encounter follows another interception in February involving five Russian military aircraft flying near the Bering Strait off Alaska’s western coast.

That group included:

  • Two Tu-95 bombers

  • Two Su-35 fighter jets

  • One A-50 airborne early warning aircraft

During that incident, NORAD launched F-16 and F-35 fighter aircraft, supported by an E-3 surveillance plane and refueling tankers, to escort the Russian aircraft until they left the area.

NORAD said those aircraft also remained in international airspace and were not considered provocative.

What the Air Defense Identification Zone Means

Air Defense Identification Zones are areas that extend beyond national borders into international airspace.

Aircraft entering an ADIZ are expected to identify themselves to air defense authorities for security purposes.

NORAD, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, maintains a layered defense network that includes satellites, ground-based radars, airborne surveillance systems, and fighter aircraft.

The system allows the United States and Canada to detect, track, and respond to aircraft approaching North American airspace.

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