The North American Aerospace Defense Command released a statement on Saturday saying it had intercepted six Russian aircraft operating off the coast of Alaska.
In a press release about the incident on Thursday, NORAD said it had “detected, tracked, positively identified and intercepted six Russian aircraft operating in and near the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
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“The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter US or Canadian sovereign airspace,” the statement added. “These flights occurred while several planned large-scale US military exercises are underway in Alaska.”
The Russian aircraft, according to the press release, were Tu-95 bombers and IL-78 tankers and Su-35 fighters.
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Russian aircraft were intercepted by F-16s, F-22s, KC-135 Stratotankers and E-3 AWACS.
The press release explained that Russian activities like this “occur regularly” and “are not seen as a threat”.
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NORAD estimates that an average of six to seven incursions by Russian aircraft occur in the ADIZ each year.
