Six Russian aircraft intercepted near Alaska airspace during US military training exercises: NORAD

The North American Aerospace Defense Command released a statement Saturday saying it had intercepted six Russian aircraft operating off the coast of Alaska. 

In a press release about Thursday’s incident, NORAD said it “detected, tracked, positively identified and intercepted six Russian aircraft operating in and near the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

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“Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace,”  the statement added. “These flights occurred as several planned large-scale U.S. military training exercises are ongoing in Alaska.”

The Russian aircraft, according to the press release, were Tu-95 bombers and IL-78 tanker and Su-35 fighter aircraft. 

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The Russian aircraft were intercepted by F-16s, F-22s, KC-135 Stratotankers and E-3 AWACS.

The press release explained that Russian activity like this “occurs regularly” and “is not seen as a threat.”

NORAD estimates an average of six to seven Russian aircraft incursions occur each year in the ADIZ.