NORAD intercepts 2 Russian reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace near Alaska [View all]

Source: Stars and Stripes

By Gary Warner
Stars and Stripes • March 5, 2026

Two Russian Tu-142 “Bear-F” long-range reconnaissance and anti-submarine aircraft were detected and tracked Wednesday in the American and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones off Alaska.

North American Aerospace Defense Command scrambled two U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighters, two F-22 Raptor fighters, four KC-135 Stratotankers, one E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, two Royal Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft and one CC-150 Polaris tanker to intercept, identify and monitor the Russian aircraft.

“The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace,” NORAD said in a statement. “This Russian activity in the Alaskan and Canadian ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat.”

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The Wednesday incident was the first since the war in Iran began on Feb. 28.

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Read more: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/americas/2026-03-05/russia-aircraft-alaska-zone-norad-20961249.html

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https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2026-02-20/norad-tracks-russian-jets-alaska-20813560.html
NORAD sends fighter jets to escort 5 Russian aircraft out of Alaska air defense zone
Stars and Stripes • February 20, 2026

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It is the first reported incursion of Russian aircraft in the Alaska zone since Sept. 24. The September incident came after several incursions in August and July.

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