Image: from OSINTdefender X @sentdefender
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies | Friday, February 20, 2026
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced late Friday that it had intercepted a significant formation of Russian military aircraft operating in international airspace near the coast of Alaska. The encounter, which took place on Thursday, marks the latest in a series of strategic maneuvers by Moscow in the increasingly contested Arctic region.
According to a NORAD statement, the Russian formation consisted of five aircraft: two Tu-95 “Bear” long-range strategic bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets, and an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft. The group was detected and tracked as it entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), a perimeter of international airspace where the U.S. and Canada require the identification of all aircraft for national security purposes.
Images published by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), showing the interception and escort Thursday of two Tu-95s, two Su-35s, and one A-50 with the Russian Air Force inside the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), by two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3,… pic.twitter.com/auTqXwKR3u
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 20, 2026
In response, the U.S. Air Force scrambled a robust “layered defense” force. The intercepting team included two F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, two F-16 Fighting Falcons, an E-3 Sentry surveillance plane, and four KC-135 refueling tankers.
“The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace,” NORAD officials clarified, describing the activity as “regular” and not currently viewed as a direct threat.
The interception comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension. Relations between Washington and Moscow remain strained as President Donald Trump attempts to negotiate a settlement for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Experts suggest that while these flights are routine, the inclusion of sophisticated Su-35 fighters and A-50 “spy planes” serves as a pointed reminder of Russia’s aerial capabilities and its commitment to maintaining a presence near North American borders.
Historical data suggests a rise in such activity. Last year, NORAD recorded several similar incursions, including a notable joint patrol by Russian and Chinese bombers in July 2024.
While the Russian Ministry of Defense has not issued a formal comment on the Thursday mission, the Kremlin has previously defended its long-range aviation patrols as being in strict accordance with international law. For now, NORAD maintains that it remains “ready to employ several response options” to ensure the defense of North American sovereignty.