US and Canadian jets intercepted Russian reconnaissance planes near Alaska

• US and Canadian aircraft intercepted two Russian reconnaissance planes in international airspace near Alaska on Monday.
• The Russian aircraft flew through the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone for four hours, with the US and Canadian planes escorting them the whole time.
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PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colorado - North American Aerospace Defense Command F-22s, CF-18s, supported by KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, intercepted two Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on Monday, March 9.

The Russian aircraft entered the ADIZ north of Alaska and remained within it for approximately 4 hours. NORAD fighter aircraft escorted the TU-142s for the duration of their time in the ADIZ.

The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace over the Beaufort Sea, and came as close as 50 nautical miles to the Alaskan coast. The Russian aircraft did not enter United States or Canadian sovereign airspace.