Over the past year, U.

S.

fighter jets have been repeatedly scrambled to intercept Russian military aircraft, specifically reconnaissance planes, operating near Alaskan airspace.

These intercepts, which have occurred multiple times, highlight the escalating tensions and increased military activity in the region.

While the exact number of intercepts remains undisclosed for operational security reasons, reports suggest a noticeable uptick in such incidents.

The Russian planes typically involved are long-range patrol aircraft, often equipped with advanced surveillance capabilities.

Their proximity to Alaskan airspace, a strategically sensitive area bordering the Arctic, triggers a response from North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

NORAD's mission includes detecting, tracking, and responding to threats to North American airspace.

When a Russian aircraft approaches or enters what is considered a zone of interest, U.

S.

fighter jets, typically F-22 Raptors or F-16 Fighting Falcons, are launched to visually identify and escort the Russian planes, ensuring they do not violate U.

S.

airspace or engage in any threatening activity.

These intercepts are a demonstration of U.

S.

readiness to defend its sovereign territory and monitor Russian military activities.

While the intercepts are intended as a defensive measure, they also serve as a signal of U.

S.

resolve and a potential deterrent to future incursions.

The close proximity of these encounters underscores the growing strategic competition between the U.

S.

and Russia, particularly in the Arctic, a region increasingly important for resource extraction, shipping routes, and military positioning.

The exact details of each intercept, including the specific Russian aircraft involved, flight paths, and duration of the engagements, are generally not released publicly.

This is due to concerns about revealing sensitive information regarding U.

S.

military capabilities and operational tactics.

However, the frequency of the events themselves speaks volumes about the changing geopolitical landscape and the heightened vigilance required to maintain security in the region.

The incidents serve as a reminder of the persistent challenges in managing relations with Russia and the potential for escalation in the Arctic.

The United States military scrambled fighter jets Sunday to intercept a Russian spy plane flying near Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command . It was the third time in less than a week that U.S. forces deployed planes after a Russian plane was spotted inside the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, a section of international airspace just outside of U.S. and Canadian sovereign space that both countries monitor closely.

This kind of Russian activity is not considered a threat in the identification zone, which extends outward from U.S. territory off the coast of Alaska, said NORAD. Although the designated area does not belong to any individual country, aircraft that enter the zone are required to identify themselves to the U.S. and Canada for national security reasons. 

NORAD detected and tracked one IL-20 COOT, a Cold War-era reconnaissance aircraft operated by the Russian military, in the Alaskan identification zone Sunday after surveilling the same type of plane flying over the region and . 

In each instance, NORAD responded by scrambling multiple fighter jets to monitor the spy plane, according to the military command. The Russian aircraft never entered U.S. or Canadian sovereign territory, remaining in the international zone off Alaska.

U.S. military officials have detected Russian warplanes inside the Alaskan identification zone on numerous occasions this year, including sightings within the bounds of the international space and . 

Earlier, in January, the U.S. and Canada scrambled fighter jets in an incident that drew scrutiny as geopolitical tension increased in the region. At the time, the U.S. military said it had dispatched two fighter jets to Greenland to "forward posture NORAD presence in the Arctic."

In September 2024,  of a Russian jet flying "within just a few feet" of NORAD aircraft off the coast of Alaska. At the time, a U.S. general said "the conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all."

"NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars and fighter aircraft to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions," the military command says, adding that it "remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America."