The Russian Tu-95, the oldest and only propeller-powered bomber in military service today, has become a familiar sight near Alaska.
For the third time in only a week, Russian “spy planes” were observed operating within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced on Sunday. A Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, two F-16 Fighting Falcons, and two KC-135 tankers were sent to “intercept and visually identify the Russian aircraft in the Alaskan ADIZ.”
NORAD added that the “Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace” and no attempt was made to “enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.” Such activity has increased in recent years, but is not “seen as a threat.”
This was the third time that F-16s were dispatched, following previous sorties on August 20 and 21, where the fighters intercepted a Russian Illyushin Il-20M (NATO reporting name “Coot-A”), a COMINT/ELINT surveillance-reconnaissance aircraft.
What Is an “ADIZ,” and Why Does It Matter?
An ADIZ is the designated area of airspace over land or water where all aircraft are required to provide a ready identification, location, and control. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, aircraft that enter or operate within an ADIZ “must comply with specific reporting procedures, including filing flight plans, using transponders, and making position reports, to ensure their timely identification by national authorities.”
It is unlikely that the Russian aircraft filed a flight plan—which is why NORAD responded by sending the F-16s and other assets to intercept and escort them. It is important to note that ADIZ only begins where US sovereign airspace ends, and is instead international airspace.
The Kremlin had carried out such “routine patrol flights” during the Cold War, but Moscow has been increasingly aggressive in its flights in the regions since 2014, with such flights over the neutral waters of the Barents Strait multiple times a year.
It should also be noted that the US and NATO also regularly conduct similar patrol missions near or even within Russia’s ADIZ in the Baltic, Bering, and Black Seas, much to Moscow’s chagrin. The Kremlin, in turn, regularly deploys fighter/interceptors to monitor and track the movements of such aircraft near its borders.
That could result in a dangerous game of chicken, and already there have been past incidents that threatened to escalate tensions. In March 2023, a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) dumped aviation fuel on and then collided with an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over international waters west of Crimea.
Russia’s Aerial Provocations Have Increased Recently
The US Air Force may have at times “poked the bear” by engaging in flights near Russia. Still, last summer it was the Russian Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO reporting name “Bear”) that did the poking, when one of the Cold War-era long-range strategic bombers conducted a joint patrol with a Chinese Xi’an H-6 bomber within the Alaska ADIZ.
The Russian Tu-95, the oldest and only propeller-powered bomber in military service today, has become a familiar sight near Alaska.
However, the Il-20 surveillance aircraft has been less commonly seen. The recent sorties by the Russian spy plane came just days after President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, for a high-stakes summit to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
As previously reported by Brandon J. Weichert for The National Interest, “The Ilyushin IL-20 is a Soviet-era reconnaissance aircraft derived from the IL-18 turboprop airliner. Designed for signals intelligence (SIGINT), the Russian bird can intercept radio communications, detect radar emissions, and scan for other electronic signals, making it a significant player for gathering actionable battlefield and strategic intelligence. It was first spotted by NATO in 1978, and remains an important component of Russia’s air force.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
