Overview

• U.S. and Canadian forces on Wednesday identified and intercepted two Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.
• NORAD deployed an E-3 surveillance aircraft, four F-16 fighter jets, and four KC-135 tankers to conduct the intercept and monitoring mission.
• The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace, according to NORAD.
• Officials described such ADIZ activity as regular, noting fluctuating yearly totals that have included 12 flights last year and historical peaks of about 15 since 2007.
• NORAD did not release details on the route or duration of the latest flight, and monitoring operations in the region continue.