US and Canadian military aircraft intercept Russian reconnaissance aircraft in front of Alaska

NORAD F-22s, CF-18s, supported by KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, intercepted two Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on Monday, March 9th. pic.twitter.com/39n3zqy8F8

– North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) March 10, 2020

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Russian planes flew in the Alaska air defense identification zone for approximately four hours.

US and Canadian airplanes routinely intercept Russian military airplanes in the area as part of the command’s efforts to secure North American airspace.

The Russian plane entered the area north of Alaska. NORAD fighter planes escorted the TU-142 during their time in the area. The Russian plane remained in international airspace over the Beaufort Sea, and approached up to 50 nautical miles to the coast of Alaska. The Russian plane did not enter the sovereign airspace of U.S or Canada

READ: The Space Force says that Russian satellites are following an American satellite

Russian airplanes will operate in the area as part of their training efforts and in the past they have flown nuclear bombers in the area, which caused similar interceptions by US airplanes.

“NORAD employs a layered defense network of radar, satellites and fighter jets to identify airplanes and determine the appropriate response,” NORAD said in a statement.

The US and Canadian aircraft were supported by a KC-135 refueling aircraft and an E-3 Airborne early warning and control aircraft.

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