Military

Russian bombers intercepted by U.S. fighter jets west of Alaska

Two Russian bombers were intercepted by Alaska-based fighter jets in international airspace west of the state on Tuesday, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

On Tuesday at 6 p.m. Alaska time, two Russian Tu-95 "Bear" bombers were intercepted by two NORAD F-22 "Raptor" fighter jets, a release said.

The bombers were flying north of the Aleutian Islands, and west of Alaska's mainland, in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, said Maj. Andrew Hennessy, NORAD spokesman. The zone extends about 200 miles off the Alaskan coast, and is mostly in international airspace.

"The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and at no time did the aircraft enter United States or Canadian sovereign airspace," Wednesday's release said.

It's the second time this month that Russian aircraft have been intercepted in Air Defense Identification Zone, Hennessy said.

On Sept. 1, two F-22 fighters intercepted Russian bombers flying in the Air Defense Identification Zone south of the Aleutians, NORAD said in a written statement.

The aircraft were "intercepted and monitored" by the U.S. jets until they left the zone, heading west. The bombers didn't enter Canadian or U.S. airspace, NORAD said.

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Two Russian bombers were also intercepted in May.

NORAD posted today's release on Twitter:

Laurel Andrews

Laurel Andrews was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Dispatch. She left the ADN in October 2018.

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