U.S. Air Force fighters intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Sunday, the third such encounter in less than a week, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
In a statement, NORAD said an Ilyushin Il-20 “Coot” entered the ADIZ on Sunday. Two F-16 fighters, an E-3 Sentry airborne command plane, and two KC-135 Stratotankers were launched to identify and track the aircraft.
“The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace,” NORAD said. “This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat.”
NORAD added that it remains ready to employ a range of response options to defend North America.
Earlier in the week, American F-16 fighters were scrambled twice, on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, to intercept Russian Il-20 aircraft operating in the Alaska ADIZ.
PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo– The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked one IL-20 COOT operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Aug. 21, 2025.
NORAD responded with an E-3, two F-16s, and one KC-135 tanker to intercept,… pic.twitter.com/OUquaWvUsY
— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) August 22, 2025
