FILE - In this Monday, March 9, 2020 file photo released by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft, top right, is intercepted near the Alaska coastline. Two Russian aircraft that came within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of Unimak Island along Alaska's Aleutian chain were intercepted late Wednesday, June 24, 2020, military officials said Thursday. The incident marked the fifth time this month that such an intercept has taken place, Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said in a release. (North American Aerospace Defense Command via AP,File)
NORAD intercepted 4 Russian aircraft in Alaska Zone on the 13th of February.
Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the North American ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, nor is the activity seen as provocative.
NORAD had anticipated this Russian activity and, as a result of our planning, was prepared to intercept it.
Since Russia resumed out of area Long Range Aviation activity in 2007, NORAD has seen a yearly average of approximately six to seven intercepts of Russian military aircraft in the ADIZ. These numbers have varied each year from as high as 15 to as low as zero.
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.
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