US F-16 intercepts Russian bombers near Alaska airspace
Nuclear capable Russian military aircraft flew within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on Thursday. An American F16 was scrambled to intercept the Russian planes and NORAD. The North American Aerospace Defense Command, monitored their flight path, but the US military says it sounds worse than it really is. Here’s why the Alaska ADID zone extends 150 miles beyond US sovereign airspace. And requires foreign aircraft to identify themselves for national security purposes. NORAD says the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and posed no immediate threat to US or Canadian territories. Russian state media are confirming the flight as a training mission, adding 2/2/95 Ms. strategic bombers completed a routine 11 hour flight over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea near Alaska’s western coast. With two sue 30M fighter jets providing escort, Russian 70 year old 295 bombers are capable of launching nuclear and conventional long range strikes. They’re routinely used for cruise missile attacks on Ukraine, which happened just last month. After Russian 295 S launched cruise toward Ukraine, Kiev issued a nationwide air alert. The head of the city’s military administration said missiles targeted the capital in groups. During three separate attacks over four days. In Leviev, 20 missiles were reportedly fired at the region targeting, quote critical infrastructure. Monitoring Russian military activity near US airspace is a standard part of Norad’s defense strategy. This includes deploying satellites, radars, and fighter jets to ensure national security. Since 2007, NORAD is averaging between 6:00 and 7:00 intercepts of Russian military aircraft a year, and they were previously detected in the Alaska Air Defense ID zone on two separate occasions in February, which is why NORAD says these missions are common and are not considered threatening.