On Wednesday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed that it had detected and tracked Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The Russian planes, identified as two Tu-95 long-range bombers and two Su-35 advanced fighter jets, remained within international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign territory. NORAD’s statement emphasized that such activity is a regular occurrence and not considered a threat, even as they deployed an E-3, four F-16s, and four KC-135 tankers to visually identify and monitor the aircraft.
This development follows similar Russian incursions into the Alaskan ADIZ, including an incident last month when NORAD intercepted an IL-20 COOT aircraft, which is a long-range reconnaissance plane. In that case, NORAD also deployed an E-3, two F-16s, and two KC-135s to identify and track the Russian military aircraft. NORAD’s actions are consistent with its strategy of monitoring and responding to potential threats without escalating to direct confrontation.
However, the situation has escalated in other NATO territories, where Russia has been accused of violating airspace. Estonia, a NATO member, reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace on Sept. 19, flying back and forth for over 12 minutes before being pushed out by Italian F-35s. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna criticized the incursion as unprecedentedly brazen, stating that it represented a significant threat to NATO’s security and the Baltic region. The incident led to a NATO meeting under Article 4, which allows the alliance to discuss threats to its member states’ security. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, representing the alliance, described Russia’s actions as escalatory, emphasizing the alliance’s readiness to defend its members against any threats.
Despite the recent tensions in NATO airspace, NORAD’s response to the Alaskan ADIZ incident remains focused on surveillance and identification rather than confrontation. The command’s assessment that the Russian activity poses no threat reflects a strategic approach to deterrence and monitoring, while still maintaining the readiness of its defense assets. As Russia continues to test the boundaries of NATO’s airspace, the alliance is expected to remain vigilant and prepared for any further escalations.