The North American Aerospace Defense Command scrambled fighter jets from Alaska and Canada on Wednesday after it detected and tracked Russian and People’s Republic of China military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.
According to a NORAD news release, two Russian TU-95 bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. NORAD stated the four aircraft were not seen as a threat.
“NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence,” NORAD stated. A Defense Department statement estimated the closet approach was about 200 miles off Alaska’s coast.
American aircraft were sent to intercept and escort the aircraft from the Alaska ADIZ. NORAD did not disclose what type of U.S. and Canadian aircraft or which bases they were dispatched from.
“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,” NORAD stated.
The Russian and Chinese aircraft are nuclear-capable strategic bombers. The Russia Defense Ministry stated Wednesday’s joint operation took part in patrols over parts of the Chukchi and Bering seas. During parts of the operation, Russian Su-30SM and and Su-355 jet fighters accompanied the bombers.
“During the flight, Russian and Chinese crews cooperated in the new area of joint operations during all stages of the air patrol,” the Russian defense ministry stated.
Russia and China have conducted several joint operations in recent years, including naval operations near Alaska waters. Russia also regularly operates military aircraft in the Alaska ADIZ and over the Bering Sea.
However, Wednesday’s joint operation marks the first time both nations have operated bombers together in the North Pacific.
Alaska’s U.S. senators both stressed that Wednesday’s operations were concerning and served as a reminder of Alaska’s role in national security.
“Alaska continues to be on the frontlines of the authoritarian aggression by the dictators in Russia and China who are increasingly working together,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan in a prepared statement. “Make no mistake, this is an escalation—the first time Russia and China have sent a joint bomber task force into the Alaska ADIZ.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski called it unprecedented and serves as a reminder that the Defense Department should hold off making changes to certain elements, such as trying to shutter the 611th Air Operations Center at Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson or making cuts to the Alaska Air National Guard.
“[These are] two of the units that were involved in the intercept of these foreign aircraft,” Murkowski said.
Both senators commended the American and Canadian pilots who intercepted the foreign aircraft.
The Defense Department has raised concerns about Russia and China’s growing military partnership, especially about their interest in an increasingly accessible Arctic.
Its newest Arctic Strategy policy document, released Monday, specifically calls out the partnership as a potential threat to U.S. and NATO interests.
“The Arctic is a critical area of strategic competition between the U.S., Russia and China,” Sullivan said on Wednesday. “As I have been warning our Pentagon leaders for years, these kinds of joint Russia and China incursions on the sea and in the air near Alaska will continue. For that reason, the United States needs to continue to build up our military forces and the infrastructure that goes with it in Alaska to protect our nation’s vital interests.”
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Publish date : 2024-07-26 10:05:00
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