NORAD tracked six Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on April 14, 2025, underscoring ongoing vigilance in North American airspace.
At a Glance
- Six Russian military aircraft entered the Alaskan ADIZ
- Aircraft remained in international airspace, posing no threat
- NORAD launched fighter jets to monitor the situation
- Previous flybys highlight growing Russian activity near Alaska
Russian Aircraft Detected Near Alaska
On April 14, 2025, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked six Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The group included two Tu-95 Bear H bombers, one Tu-142 F/J maritime patrol aircraft, one A-50 Mainstay airborne warning plane, and two Su-35 Flanker fighter jets, as reported by Stars and Stripes.
The Russian planes remained in international airspace and did not breach U.S. or Canadian sovereign territory. According to NORAD, their presence was not considered a threat and was consistent with previous patterns of Russian aerial operations near Alaska.
NORAD’s Response and Monitoring
NORAD launched aircraft from Alaska to intercept and monitor the Russian formation, though specific details on launch bases or aircraft types were withheld for operational security. The Russian jets reportedly remained over the Bering Sea for about two and a half hours, at a distance of approximately 250 nautical miles from Shemya Island in the western Aleutians, according to Alaska Public Media.
This incident contrasted with a more confrontational encounter in September 2024, when a Russian Su-35 executed an “unsafe and unprofessional” maneuver near a U.S. F-16, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Pentagon, as detailed by Stars and Stripes.
Increased Russian Activity in the Region
Recent years have seen a notable uptick in Russian flights approaching North American airspace. In July 2024, NORAD tracked two Russian and two Chinese bombers operating in international airspace roughly 200 miles off the Alaskan coast. And in September 2024, two Russian Il-38 reconnaissance aircraft were intercepted after entering the ADIZ. These and similar incidents are becoming routine, as documented by Stars and Stripes.
According to NORAD, the command maintains a layered defense system that includes radar, satellites, and fighter aircraft, allowing for rapid response to any incursions. This posture helps ensure the security of North American skies, even when encounters occur in international zones.
Understanding the Alaskan ADIZ
The Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone is a buffer area that extends about 150 miles off the U.S. coast. Aircraft entering the ADIZ are required to identify themselves, a process not recognized under international law but used by several countries for early threat detection. As explained by ABC News, this zone allows U.S. forces to monitor and manage foreign aircraft before they reach national airspace.
Through routine intercepts and careful observation, NORAD continues to uphold its mission of defending North American territory against aerial threats, regardless of the changing pace of foreign military activity near the continent.
