The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported detecting four Russian military aircraft operating near Alaska’s air defense zone on Wednesday. According to a statement released by NORAD, two Tu-95 strategic bombers and two Su-35 multirole fighters were tracked within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on September 24, 2025. The command deployed an E-3 airborne warning aircraft, four F-16 fighter jets, and four KC-135 refueling tankers to identify and intercept the Russian planes in the international airspace.

The Russian military aircraft remained within international airspace and did not cross into U.S. or Canadian sovereign territory. NORAD emphasized that such activity in the Alaskan ADIZ is routine and does not constitute a threat. The ADIZ, which extends beyond national airspace, requires aircraft to be identified for security purposes. NORAD maintains a defensive network of satellites, radar systems, and fighter aircraft to monitor and respond to potential risks across North America.

Recent incidents include the detection of a Russian IL-20 COOT surveillance aircraft in the Alaskan ADIZ last month. NORAD intercepted the plane with an E-3, two F-16s, and two KC-135s, noting that such operations are frequent but not inherently threatening. The current situation coincides with allegations of Russian incursions into the airspace of NATO members Estonia and Poland.

On September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighters were reported to have flown over Estonia for over 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian F-35s. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the incident as an unprecedented escalation, citing four previous violations of Estonian airspace this year. NATO convened emergency discussions following the breach, invoking Article 4 of its charter to address perceived threats.