#Tu95MS #escorted #Su30SM #Su35S #intercepted #F16 #fighters #aggressor #style
AIRSPACE REVIEW – The Russian Ministry of Defense said that two Russian Tu-95MS bombers which were carrying out a long-range flight and were escorted by two Su-30SM fighter jets were intercepted by an American F-16C aircraft with an aggressor pattern.
The incident occurred on May 2, 2024 over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea, near the west coast of Alaska, escorted by US Air Force F-16C fighters with an aggressor livery.
“Two Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers of the Russian Air Force’s long-range aviation carried out a scheduled flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea near the western coast of Alaska. The flight lasted just over 11 hours. Air Force Su-30SM and Su-35S crews provided support to the fighters,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
The ministry added that at several stages of the route, the bombers carrying strategic missiles were intercepted by F-16Cs from the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron based at Eielson Air Force Base.
Russian long-range aircraft crews routinely carry out regular flights in the neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black and Baltic Seas, as well as the Pacific Ocean, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
“Russian Air Force aircraft carry out all flights in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace,” he stressed.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported the same day that it detected and tracked four Russian military aircraft (two Tu-95MS, one Su-30SM and one Su-35S) operating in the North American Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) Alaska.
According to NORAD, the Russian plane remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs routinely and is not seen as a threat.
ADIZ begins when sovereign airspace ends and is a specific portion of international airspace that requires immediate identification of all aircraft in the interests of national security.
NORAD uses a layered defense network consisting of satellites, ground- and air-based radars, and fighter aircraft to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate action. NORAD remains prepared to employ a variety of response options in the defense of North America. (RNS)
