Russian Strategic Air Force recently carried out a planned flight over international airspace in the Bering Sea, near the west coast of Alaska. The flight was escorted by fighter jets Su-30SM and Su-35S, and lasted more than 11 hours. Images released by the Russian military showed two Tu-95MS strategic bombers departing from their base at dawn, with an F-16 fighter of the US Air Force closely following them.
The Russian Defense Ministry emphasized that the Russian Strategic Air Force regularly operates in international airspace in various regions, including the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and Pacific Ocean. These flights strictly adhere to international regulations on the use of airspace. Meanwhile, the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) reported that four Russian military aircraft were present in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), but they were not violating US airspace.
Since 2007, Russian military aircraft have been routinely entering the Alaska ADIZ, which extends about 200 nautical miles off the west coast of the state. The US has consistently responded by sending fighter jets to monitor the situation. Despite these actions, there have been no instances of Russian aircraft violating US airspace, with both sides conducting their operations in a professional and safe manner.
