NORAD Intercepts Russian Aircraft Formation Over Alaska
NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, intercepted a formation of Russian aircraft in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on 24 September 2025. This marked the first Russian presence in the region since August 26 and follows a pattern of regular activity that is not considered a threat.
The intercept involved two Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bombers and two Sukhoi Su-35 fighters. NORAD deployed an E-3 Sentry, four F-16 Fighting Falcons, and four KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers to identify and shadow the aircraft. This incident comes just hours before a separate NATO operation over the Baltic Sea involving Hungarian Gripens and Russian MiGs and Sukhois.
Russian aircraft have made several flights into the Alaskan ADIZ in recent months, with four separate flights in one week in August alone. Other flights were recorded in July, April, and February. Despite this regular activity, NORAD does not view it as a threat.
The latest intercept occurred as U.S. President Donald Trump made political remarks on 23 September regarding Ukraine and NATO's response to Russian aircraft. However, NORAD's response was purely defensive, with no aggressive actions taken. The Russian planes remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace.
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