Russian, Chinese bombers off Alaska: “It is a very big USA concern”

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has found two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday.

"NORAD detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone," the agency said in a statement, TASS informs.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) says it tracked the flight of two Russian and two Chinese warplanes off Alaska on Wednesday. "NORAD detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on July 24, 2024. NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept," the agency said in a statement.

The US military pointed out that the Russian and Chinese aircraft "remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace."

The jets were not seen as a threat but NORAD will continue to monitor similar activity from the North American continent and "meet presence with presence," the joint US-Canadian organization declared, writes Sputnik Globe.

NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept, the press release added. The Russian and Chinese aircraft reportedly remained over international territory and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.

The jets were not seen as a threat but NORAD will continue to monitor similar activity from the North American continent and "meet presence with presence," the organization declared.

The United States and Canada signed a treaty creating NORAD on May 12, 1958, at the dawn of the Cold War. Its primary purpose is to provide early warning of ballistic missile launches and to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles that enter the airspace of either country.

The bombers remained in international airspace in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and were “not seen as a threat,” according to a statement from NORAD, CNN stresses writes with relief.

The US and Canada, which together comprise NORAD, intercepted the Russian TU-95 Bear and Chinese H-6 bombers. The aircraft did not enter US or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said.

It also marks “the first time H-6 bombers, which are a derivative of older Soviet bombers, have entered the Alaska ADIZ,” the defense official said.

The intercept was carried out by US F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, as well as Canadian CF-18 fighter jets, according to the defense official. Support aircraft were also part of the intercept, the official said.

On Thursday, China’s Defense Ministry said the Chinese and Russian air forces had organized a “joint strategic aerial patrol in the relevant airspace of the Bering Sea” as part of an existing annual cooperation plan between the two militaries.

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the ministry, told a news conference it was the eighth such patrol organized by the two militaries since 2019, which were aimed at “further testing and enhancing the level of cooperation between the two air forces, as well as deepening strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two countries.”

“This action is not aimed at third parties, it is in line with relevant international laws and international practices and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation,” Zhang said.

Russian flights into Alaska’s ADIZ are not uncommon. But the presence of Chinese aircraft appears to be a new development.

In May, Russia flew four aircraft into Alaska’s ADIZ, which NORAD said at the time “occurs regularly.”

In March, the head of US Northern Command, Gen. Gregory Guillot, said China was pushing farther north into the Arctic and he expected to see aircraft there “as soon as this year potentially.”

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