Over the past week, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked several Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The U.S. military reported two separate detections of Russian aircraft, first on Friday and then over the weekend.
On Friday, NORAD tracked two Russian TU-142 military aircraft, typically used for maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare. The following days saw additional sightings, with two Russian IL-38 military aircraft detected on both Saturday and Sunday. NORAD confirmed that all of the Russian planes remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign territory.
While this activity is frequent and considered non-threatening, NORAD monitors these incidents closely to ensure the security of North American airspace. The ADIZ is a buffer zone extending 150 miles from the U.S. coastline, where aircraft are required to identify themselves for national security purposes.
These detections come amidst broader international military exercises. Russia’s Ocean 2024 naval drills, involving over 400 vessels and 120 aircraft, took place concurrently in the Pacific and Arctic oceans. Additionally, China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships have been conducting joint exercises with the Russian Navy, heightening military activity in the region.
Despite increased Russian and Chinese military operations, NORAD emphasized that the detected aircraft posed no immediate threat.
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