The North American Aerospace Defense Command scrambled fighter jets to intercept two Russian bombers and two Chinese bombers that were operating together in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on Wednesday, according to a NORAD press release.
“NORAD detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two PRC [People’s Republic of China] H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ),” the release said. “NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept.”
NORAD said the planes remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.
"This Russian and PRC activity in the Alaska ADIZ is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence," the statement said.
The intercept was carried out by US F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, as well as Canadian CF-18 fighter jets, a defense official told CNN. Support aircraft were also part of the intercept, the official said.
“An ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security,” explained the release.
Canada and the U.S. monitor airspace in the area through NORAD, a bi-national command.
In May, NORAD tracked four Russian aircraft operating in the same space. It said there is regular Russian activity in the area that is not seen as a threat.