By Micah Jonah, February 20, 2026
The United States military scrambled fighter jets after multiple Russian military aircraft were detected operating near Alaska, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
NORAD said two Russian Tu 95 bombers, two Su 35 fighter jets and one A 50 airborne early warning aircraft were tracked inside Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone.
In response, the US deployed two F 16 fighter jets, two F 35 fighter jets, one E 3 airborne warning aircraft and four KC 135 refuelling tankers to escort the Russian planes.
The command clarified that the Russian aircraft did not enter United States or Canadian sovereign airspace and were not considered a threat. The jets reportedly escorted the aircraft until they exited the Air Defense Identification Zone.
Air Defense Identification Zones are areas beyond a country’s sovereign airspace where incoming aircraft are required to identify themselves for national security purposes. They are not governed by international law but are unilaterally declared by countries including the US, China, India and Japan.
NORAD noted that Russian military aircraft are regularly observed operating in Alaska’s ADIZ and described the activity as routine.
In July 2024, the US and Canada intercepted Russian and Chinese bombers flying together in the same zone, marking the first known joint bomber patrol by the two countries over the North Pacific. That development raised concerns among US officials over expanding military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing.
Friday’s incident comes amid heightened global tensions involving Russia and Western nations, but US defence officials emphasised that the latest encounter did not pose an immediate danger.
Military analysts say such intercepts are part of longstanding aerial monitoring operations aimed at safeguarding North American airspace while avoiding direct confrontation.
