JOINT BASE ELMENDORF RICHARDSON, Alaska - At 5:53 p.m. (AKST), the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Region detected, tracked and identified 5 Russian aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
The aircraft, which are currently operating in international airspace, have not entered United States or Canadian sovereign airspace. The aircraft departed the ADIZ at 7:21 p.m.
“We remain vigilant in our execution of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America in order to deter strategic competitors from threatening the shared interest of the U.S., our allies and partners,” said Air Force Lt. Gen David Krumm, commander, Alaskan NORAD Region, Alaskan Command and 11th Air Force.
NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based radars, airborne radar and fighter aircraft to track and identify aircraft and inform the appropriate response. We remain ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America and Arctic sovereignty.