U.S. fighter jets intercepted two formations of Russian military aircraft off the coast of Alaska early Wednesday morning, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said.
“Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, NORAD’s remains ready and poised to defend the homelands 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year,” NORAD commander Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy said in a statement.
The first formation — which had two Russian Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets and an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft — came within 20 nautical miles of Alaskan shores, according to a NORAD news release.
The second formation — which had two Tu-95 bombers and an A-50 — came within 32 nautical miles, NORAD said.
The Russian aircraft were intercepted by U.S. F-22 Raptors supported by KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling planes and an E-3 airborne early warning and control aircraft, the release said.
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