Russian military aircraft were recently detected flying in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on two separate occasions, as reported by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). NORAD emphasized that such activity is not uncommon and is not considered a threat to national security.
During both incidents, the Russian aircraft were identified and monitored by NORAD but did not breach American or Canadian sovereign airspace, remaining within international airspace boundaries.
NORAD explained that an ADIZ serves as a buffer zone between sovereign airspace and international airspace, requiring the identification of all aircraft for security purposes.
These events occurred amidst President Donald Trump's efforts to initiate negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin to address the conflict in Ukraine.
This recent activity follows NORAD's previous monitoring of Russian military aircraft in the Arctic region less than a month ago. While those aircraft also stayed within international airspace and were not deemed threatening, NORAD responded by deploying combat air patrols to track the activity.
In a separate incident in September, NORAD addressed a concerning encounter captured on video, where a Russian Su-35 aircraft performed a risky maneuver in front of a NORAD F-16 during a routine intercept operation over the ADIZ. Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander of the North American Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command, condemned the unsafe behavior, emphasizing the importance of safe and professional conduct during such encounters.
NORAD reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of North American airspace, emphasizing the need for professionalism and adherence to international protocols during interactions with foreign military aircraft.
