US and Canada Intercept Chinese and Russian Bombers Near Alaska - The United States and Canada have intercepted four bombers—two from China and two from Russia—operating in international airspace near Alaska, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
On Wednesday, NORAD reported that US and Canadian fighter jets "detected, tracked, and intercepted" two Russian TU-95 bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers within Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Despite the intercepts, the aircraft did not enter US or Canadian sovereign airspace and were not deemed a threat.
“NORAD will continue to monitor activities near North America and respond to such presence with a strong presence of our own,” stated NORAD in a release.
In military terms, intercepting an aircraft means making contact with it, either electronically or visually, to determine its intent and identity.
Countries, including the US, China, India, and Japan, have established ADIZs to ensure that foreign military aircraft identify themselves when entering these designated airspaces. Unlike sovereign airspace, ADIZs are not governed by international law or managed by any global authority.
Russian military activity near Alaska is frequent. Earlier this year, in February, NORAD reported intercepting four Russian warplanes in the Alaska ADIZ. Recently, on Sunday, Russia claimed to have scrambled fighter jets to intercept two US bombers approaching its border over the Barents Sea in the Arctic.
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