Tuesday, the joint US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported that two American F-16s intercepted four Russian aircraft in Alaska. NORAD stated in a statement that the “routine” intercept of the Russian aircraft, which included a Tu-95 bomber and a Su-35 fighter, occurred on Monday.
“Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace,” the report stated, adding that such Russian action “occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, nor is the activity seen as provocative.”
The Aviation Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ, is a perimeter in which air activity is monitored outside the national airspace boundary in order to offer additional reaction time in the event of hostile acts.
This month, U.S. airplanes stationed in North America engaged in unusual offensive operations, shooting down a purported Chinese surveillance balloon and three unidentifiable objects. U.S. authorities reported on Tuesday that intelligence personnel have been watching the downed spy balloon since it took off from the southern coast of China.
“NORAD also assessed that this Russian flight activity is in no way related to recent NORAD and U.S. Northern Command operations associated with airborne objects over North America during the last two weeks,” the command added.
Frequent interceptions of Russian aircraft occur in this region, which is near to Russia’s far eastern border.
In October, U.S. F-16 airplanes intercepted two Russian bombers near Alaska in international airspace, while in September, NORAD reported detecting two Russian maritime patrol aircraft in the ADIZ.
NORAD claims it uses a “a layered defense network” consisting of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars, and fighter jets to identify and track aircraft.
According to its website, the Alaskan NORAD Region is capable of monitoring “what goes on in and near North American airspace 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Aerospace control involves the ability to intercept, shadow, accompany, divert, direct landings, and, if required, use force to destroy airborne objects, according to the command.
»Four Russian warplanes are intercepted by American F-16 fighter fighters in Alaska«
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