North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) intercepted a formation of Russian aircraft on 24 September 2025 in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), the command announced the following day.
The intercept involved two Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bombers and two Sukhoi Su-35 fighters. NORAD deployed an E-3 Sentry, four F-16 Fighting Falcons, and four KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers to identify and shadow the aircraft. According to the command, the Russian planes remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace.
“This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” NORAD stated. The command did not release details on the route or duration of the flight.
The incident marked the first Russian presence in the Alaska ADIZ since 26 August, when an Ilyushin Il-20 surveillance aircraft flew for more than two hours near the western Aleutian Islands. Russian aircraft made four separate flights into the ADIZ in one week in August, in addition to two flights in July, one in April and two in February, according to earlier NORAD reporting.
The latest intercept came just hours before a separate NATO operation over the Baltic Sea, where Hungarian Gripens intercepted three MiG-31s, a Su-35 and a Su-30. The near-simultaneous encounters underscore the tempo of Russian long-range aviation activity across multiple regions.
The activity also coincided with political remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump on 23 September, when he suggested Ukraine could ultimately restore its borders from before Russia’s invasion and argued that NATO members should consider shooting down intruding Russian aircraft.
I suppose while they are up there annoying the cousins they are not murdering civilians in Ukraine!
Do those planes always fly like that ? They look very “On Edge”.
Would be shot down in short order I suspect. Interesting they used F16s, I thought F15s and F22s were based in Alaska.
Yes, but the F16s based at Eielson AFB are a dedicated interceptor squadron. I think it’s the last unit in the UASF with an ‘interceptor’ designation.
USAF*
Ah thank you. I did not know that.
Formidable, the USAF.
I believe the ANG have F16 in the role too regards NORAD?
This is because Trump called them a paper Tiger 🐅
It will consume alot of resources if the Russians continue this tempo.