American F-16 and Russian Su-30 in Close Encounter Near Alaska: Video

A U.S.-made F16 fighter jet flies past while emitting flares during a rehearsal for the 78th anniversary of the Indonesian military in Jakarta on October 3, 2023.

Footage released by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows a U.S. fighter jet tracking Russian military aircraft flying over the Bering Sea, near Alaskan airspace, on May 2.

The Russian ministry said its aircraft—two Tu-95 strategic missile carriers—were carrying out a scheduled flight near the western coast of the U.S. state. During parts of the flight, the two carriers, which were escorted by Russian Su-30 jets, were accompanied by fighter jets from other countries, the ministry reported.

The clip clearly shows a U.S. F-16 fighter jet—the same type provided to Ukraine to help it in its war against invading Russian forces—flying close to the Russian aircraft. At one point in the video, a Russian Su-30 and the U.S. F-16 are seen close to each other.

In a statement, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said four Russian military aircraft were “detected and tracked” in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on May 2.

“The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” NORAD said.

This is not the first time that U.S. authorities have reacted to Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ. In May and August 2023, NORAD detected several Russian aircraft within the ADIZ. This February, Four Russian aircraft were also identified in the Alaska ADIZ.

The ADIZ is considered international airspace, but because it is directly next to the U.S., it “requires the ready identification, location and control of all aircraft in the interest of national security,” according to NORAD.

NORAD said it has a “layered defense” of satellites, airborne and ground radar, and fighter jets able to “detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions” in situations like the one that occurred on May 2.

Moscow said flights carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces in the area are made in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.

Tensions between the U.S. and Russia have increased since Moscow invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022 and Washington turned into one of Kyiv’s most crucial allies. The U.S. has provided approximately $44.3 billion in military aid since the beginning of the Russian invasion, according to the State Department. Lawmakers recently overcame an impasse in Congress to approve $61 billion in additional military assistance to the embattled country.

The war is now in its third year and Ukraine is facing some unique challenges, including struggling to replace troops who have been at the front since the beginning of the war and are exhausted. The country is currently outmanned and outgunned by Russia, but the new aid package from the U.S. should help as it tries to fight off Russian advances.

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