Overview

• An E-3 Sentry, two F-16s and two KC-135 tankers intercepted and visually identified a Russian Il-20 on Sunday in the Alaska ADIZ.
• The command reported similar Il-20 intercepts on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, making three such contacts in one week.
• Sunday’s action marked the seventh Alaska ADIZ detection of Russian aircraft in 2025, compared with 26 in both 2024 and 2023.
• NORAD describes the ADIZ as international airspace that requires ready identification of aircraft for national security.
• NORAD cites a layered network of satellites, radars, AWACS and fighters for detection and response, and the recent activity followed President Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Anchorage by about a week.