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The United States scrambled fighter jets twice after detecting a Russian intelligence and surveillance plane near Alaska on Wednesday and Thursday. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported that two F-16s and one KC-135 tanker were launched to identify and monitor the Russian IL-20 COOT plane flying in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The next day, an E-3, two F-16s, and one KC-135 tanker were sent to intercept the same type of aircraft.
NORAD stated that this Russian activity in Alaskan airspace is routine and does not pose a threat. While Russian aircraft entering the Alaskan ADIZ is not uncommon, the timing and type of aircraft involved have drawn attention. These intercepts occurred shortly after a diplomatic meeting between Trump and Putin when Ukraine was the main topic.
The Russian military plane remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace on either day. The Alaskan ADIZ serves as an air buffer for defense purposes.
On Wednesday, the IL-20 plane was intercepted about 25 nautical miles from St. Lawrence Island, a U.S. territory close to Russia. The surveillance aircraft remained within the ADIZ for approximately one hour and twelve minutes. While the U.S. Air Force frequently monitors Russian Tu-95 bomber flights in the area, the use of an IL-20 equipped for electronic intelligence gathering is less common.
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These interceptions follow similar actions by other countries. Poland scrambled fighter jets after Russia launched long-range missile strikes on Ukraine on Wednesday night. Japan scrambled fighters to intercept two Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers and two fighters over the Sea of Japan a day earlier.
U.S. and allied aircraft will continue to monitor activity in the region, with no changes announced in U.S. air defense posture following these interceptions.
