Russia deployed a fleet of Tu-95MS, Su-30, and Su-35S aircraft in the airspace near Alaska, causing the US Air Force to dispatch F-16s to monitor.
“Two Tu-95MS strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a planned flight over international airspace in the Bering Sea, near the west coast of the US state of Alaska. The squadron was escorted by fighter jets. Su-30SM, the flight lasted more than 11 hours,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said on May 3.
Images released by the Russian military show the Tu-95MS squadron departing from the base at dawn. An F-16 fighter of the US Air Force 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron continuously followed closely to the right of the Tu-95MS as it operated near Alaska, while heavy fighters Su-30SM and Su-35S Russia monitors the rear.
The Tu-95MS squadron operates near Alaska in a video released on May 3. Video: Star
“The Russian Strategic Air Force regularly operates in international airspace in the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black Sea, Baltic Sea and Pacific Ocean. All flights strictly comply with international regulations on use of the area heaven,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) on the same day announced the discovery of 4 Russian military aircraft in the air defense identification zone (ADIZ) of Alaska. “The aircraft are always in international airspace, not violating the airspace of the US and Alaska. Russian forces’ activities in the Alaska ADIZ take place regularly and are not considered a threat,” NORAD said.
ADIZ is an airspace that is self-determined by a country or territory and forces civil aircraft entering to notify, identify, locate and be under the control of that country or territory. ADIZ is not airspace, but according to international practice, military aircraft often send notifications before entering another country’s ADIZ to avoid unexpected collisions.
Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (slashed). Graphics: Wikipedia
Since 2007, Russian military aircraft have continuously entered the Alaska ADIZ, an area extending about 200 nautical miles off the west coast of the state. The US regularly sends fighter jets to monitor, but Russian aircraft have never violated US airspace. Both sides conducted approaching and close operations in a professional and safe manner.