NORAD intercepts Russian aircraft in back-to-back days
Mike Brest
Video Embed
The Alaskan Region of North American Aerospace Defense Command tracked and intercepted four Russian aircraft that were entering and operating within the Alaska Air Defense Identification on Monday and again on Tuesday.
NORAD announced the first incident on Tuesday and revealed details of a nearly identical situation that occurred one day later on Thursday.
WHITE HOUSE SAYS NO INDICATION THREE OBJECTS SHOT DOWN WERE CHINESE SURVEILLANCE
On both days, Russia’s military aircraft stayed in international airspace and did not reach America or Canada. Russia’s planes included the TU-95 BEAR-H and SU-35 on Monday, and the TU-95 BEAR-H, SU-30, and SU-35 fighter aircraft were used on Tuesday.
Two NORAD F-16 fighters intercepted the Russian aircraft on both days with some supporting help in both situations.
“This Russian activity near the North American ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, nor is the activity seen as provocative. As before, NORAD had anticipated this Russian activity and, as a result of our planning, was prepared to intercept it. NORAD also assesses that this Russian flight activity is in no way related to recent NORAD and U.S. Northern Command operations associated with airborne objects over North America during the last two weeks,” NORAD said in both announcements.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
NORAD described both incidents as “routine intercept[s].”
Russia’s military has made these moves an average of six to seven times a year since it resumed out-of-area long-range aviation activity in 2007. The highest number in a year of these incidents during this time period was 15, and the lowest was zero.