US detects Russian military aircraft flying near Alaska

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced on September 24 that it had detected and tracked four Russian military aircraft operating near the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on September 23.

US F-35 (bottom) and F-16 (center) fighter jets intercepted Russian Tu-95 aircraft near Alaska in July.

PHOTO: US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

The Russian planes flew in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian airspace. According to NORAD, Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ is routine and is not considered a threat.

NORAD did not specify what type of aircraft were involved. The command said it has a multi-layered defense network of satellites, ground and airborne radars, and fighter jets to monitor and report any actions as appropriate. NORAD said it was prepared to deploy a range of response options to defend North America.

Also on September 24, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that two Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying aircraft had completed a planned 11-hour flight over neutral waters in the Bering Sea, near the western coast of Alaska, according to RIA Novosti news agency.

Two Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets escorted the two bombers. The Tu-95MS aircraft are believed to be able to carry a variety of missiles, including Kh-55, Kh-555 or Kh-101 cruise missiles.

On the same day, the Russian Defense Ministry also said that two Tu-160 strategic bombers also made a planned 11-hour flight in neutral airspace over the Arctic Ocean, the East Siberian Sea and the Laptev Sea.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that pilots of long-range aviation regularly fly over neutral waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The ministry stressed that all flights of the Russian Air Force are carried out in strict compliance with international rules for the use of airspace.

The development comes after the US Army deployed the 11th Airborne Division to Shemya Island in Alaska. The division is based at Camp Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright in Alaska.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-phat-hien-may-bay-quan-su-nga-bay-gan-alaska-185240924195219836.htm