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US jets intercept Russian military aircraft off Alaska: NORAD

This NORAD image taken on March 9, 2020 and obtained March 14, 2020 shows North American Aerospace Defense Command F-22s, supported by KC-135 Stratotankers and E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, intercepted two pairs of Russian Tu-142s entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone.

The United States’ fighter jets have intercepted two formations of Russian military aircraft off the coast of Alaska for the second time this week.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) made the announcement  in a Wednesday statement.

“For the eighth time this year, Russian military aircraft have penetrated our Canadian or Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zones and each and every time NORAD forces were ready to meet this challenge,” NORAD commander General Terrence O’Shaughnessy said in the statement.

Two Russian bomber formations were allegedly intercepted in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone Tuesday night after flying within 32 nautical miles of the Alaskan coast.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, NORAD constantly monitors the northern approaches to our nations and our operations make it clear that we will conduct homeland defense efforts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year,” O’Shaughnessy further claimed.

The US dispatched F-22 Raptors, backed by KC-135 aerial refueling tankers and an E-3 early warning aircraft.

The first Russian formation was claimed to consist of two Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets and an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft, while the second had two bombers and an A-50.

Alaska houses the Pentagon's strategic missile interceptor base at Fort Greely, about 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks.

Moscow has repeatedly expressed concerns about US missile systems that it believes are being deployed around the world to counter Russian missiles.


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