A video released earlier this week shows a tense close encounter between a U.S. Air Force F-35A and a Russian Su-35S fighter jet over the Bering and Chukchi Seas, near Alaska.
The footage, initially shared by the Russian Fighterbomber Telegram channel – linked to the Russian Aerospace Forces – shows a Russian Su-35S fighter jet escorting a Tu-95MS “Bear” bomber, while an F-35A from Eielson Air Force Base flies dangerously close to the Russian jet—at one point, almost positioning itself directly in front of its nose.
Russian SU-35 just a few feet away from an American F35-A
A TU-95 is also visible.
footage is taken somewhere close to Alaska pic.twitter.com/OBGXXl1kXZ— yassine (@notyassine900) April 4, 2025
The footage was recorded from inside the Russian cockpit, though the exact time and location of the incident remain unclear.
The last time the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) publicly reported detecting and tracking Russian military aircraft near Alaska’s coast was in February.
NORAD later released images showing the U.S. Air Force F-35As flying alongside Russian Su-35s and Tu-95s in international airspace within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone. At the time, neither U.S. nor Russian officials mentioned any unusually close or potentially unsafe maneuvers by either side.
— #WeHaveTheWatch —
On Feb. 18 & 19, 2025, @NORADCommand F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft positively identified and intercepted 2 Russian Tu-95 and 2 Su-35 military aircraft in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) remaining in international airspace west of AK. pic.twitter.com/yamTxXz7fY
— Alaskan NORAD Region and Alaskan Command (@ANRALCOM) February 21, 2025
The U.S. Air Force F-35A is a cutting-edge stealth fighter jet, capable of speeds up to 1,200 mph and a range of around 1,380 miles, while the Russian Su-35 reaches speeds of up to 1,500 mph with a range of approximately 1,000 miles.
