- Two Russian planes remained in international airspace, away from the US and Canada
- Four more aircraft, including two bombers, were spotted in the area on Tuesday
- Russia previously issued a press release about long-range training flights
For the second time in three days, Russian military fighter jets have been detected near Alaska, just a few kilometers off the coast.
North American Aerospace Defense Command spotted the two planes on Thursday, after four other Russian planes, including two bombers, were detected on Tuesday.
The Russian plane remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said.
“This Russian activity in the ADIZ in Alaska is common and is not considered a threat,” NORAD said.
The Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone is a stretch of international airspace that extends 150 miles from the U.S. coastline.
The Russian plane remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said (stock photo)
In the interest of national security, all aircraft entering the zone must identify themselves.
NORAD uses satellites, ground and airborne radar and fighter jets to detect and track aircraft entering the area.
Russia previously issued a press release about a long-range bomber training flight to the Arctic, which could explain the sighting of the fighter jets.
“The flight was carried out in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace,” Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash told the Russian Defense Ministry.
‘Long-range pilots regularly fly over the neutral waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic Ocean, the Black and Baltic Seas and the Pacific Ocean.’
Tensions between the US and Russia have increased due to the war in Ukraine and increasing conflict in the Middle East.
Defense experts warned that global tensions had not been this intense since at least the 1970s.
Coupled with the conflicts in Europe and the Red Sea, there were concerns that China could invade Taiwan.
