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5h ago

NORAD Tracks 4th Russian Il-20 Near Alaska in a Week

NORAD characterizes the Il-20 activity as routine reconnaissance not considered a threat.

NORAD has scrambled F-16s four times in the past week to respond to Russian aircraft.
German Typhoon Fighter Planes | Image: Republic

Overview

  • The latest Il-20 was tracked on Aug. 26 inside Alaska’s ADIZ for about 2 hours 20 minutes, approaching to 26 nautical miles north of Shemya Island.
  • NORAD launched two F-16s, an E-3 Sentry, and a KC-135 tanker, and the Russian aircraft stayed in international airspace without entering U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace.
  • Earlier flights were detected on Aug. 20, 21, and 24 on varying routes near St. Lawrence Island, Cape Lisburne, and Point Hope.
  • Retired commanders and analysts say the sorties likely support intelligence collection or strategic messaging linked to the Northern Edge exercise, with the Il-20’s capability described as limited.
  • German Eurofighters also scrambled over the Baltic to meet an Il-20 in recent days, reflecting a wider pattern, and Russia offered no immediate comment.