NORAD Scrambles as Russian Fighter Jets and Bombers Tracked Off Alaska

Russian Fighter Jets and bombers were tracked Thursday off the western coast of Alaska near the Bering Strait, prompting U. S. fighter jets to scramble to intercept and escort the formation until it left the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, NORAD said. The action, updated on February 20, 2026 at 5: 32 p. m. ET, did not involve any crossing into U. S. or Canadian sovereign airspace.

NORAD intercepts off the Bering Strait

NORAD detected two Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighter planes and an A-50 spy plane operating in the Alaskan ADIZ, a defined stretch of international airspace that begins where U. S. and Canadian sovereign airspace ends. To identify and escort the Russian aircraft, NORAD launched two F-16s, two F-35s and four KC-135 tankers, which accompanied the formation until it departed the zone.

Russian Fighter Jets escorted out of the Alaskan ADIZ

NORAD said the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. The command described the activity as a regular occurrence and not considered a threat, and on Friday posted photos showing U. S. fighters alongside the Russian planes as they were escorted away from the area.

How this fits with recent encounters

The Thursday interception follows similar operations in recent years: U. S. jets were scrambled in September 2025 to intercept Tu-95s and Su-35s in the Alaskan ADIZ, and NORAD last August intercepted an IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft four times in one week. In September 2024, a short video posted by NORAD showed a Russian fighter flying close to a NORAD aircraft inside the ADIZ.

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