U.S. F-16s Intercept Russian Bombers Near Alaska as Air Activity Increases.

U.S. officials said Russian military flights near Alaska are rising a day after F-16 jets intercepted bombers and fighters in the region. The incident highlights Alaska’s role in homeland defense as Moscow continues to test American airspace security.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed Thursday that the interception of Russian bombers and fighters near Alaska on September 24 reflects an increase in Moscow’s military flights close to U.S. airspace. The encounter, carried out by F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base, came just a day before officials warned that Russia continues to probe America’s northern defenses.
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U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron intercepts a Russian Tu-95MS Bear strategic bomber and Su-35 Flanker-E multirole fighter inside the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone over the Bering Sea, September 24, 2025. (Image: U.S. Air Force / NORAD release)

The Russian Tu-95MS Bear-H bombers and Su-35 Flanker-E fighters approached from the northwest over the Bering Sea, entering the ADIZ (Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone) without filing a flight plan or establishing two-way radio contact. NORAD tracked the formation and scrambled alert fighters under Quick Reaction Alert procedures. The U.S. F-16s intercepted the Russian aircraft, identified the flight package, and escorted them through the zone without incident. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. sovereign territory.

Although NORAD categorized the event as routine, the composition of the formation, with Su-35 fighters escorting Tu-95MS bombers, reflects an evolving pattern in Russian strategic aviation. These missions are not only for pilot training or long-range navigation but serve as deliberate probes of North American aerospace defenses.

The Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear-H is a legacy strategic bomber developed by the Soviet Union and still operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces. Despite its vintage design, the aircraft remains highly relevant due to its ability to launch long-range cruise missiles, including the Kh-55 and Kh-101, both of which are capable of carrying nuclear or conventional payloads. With a range exceeding 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), the Tu-95MS can engage targets from standoff distances well outside U.S. borders, posing a persistent deterrent threat.

The Su-35 Flanker-E, which escorted the bombers during this mission, is one of Russia’s most advanced multirole fighters. It features thrust-vectoring engines, an advanced radar system capable of tracking multiple airborne targets at long range, and a wide array of air-to-air weapons, including R-77 and R-73 missiles. The Su-35 has a combat radius of approximately 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) and can reach speeds up to 2,500 km/h (1,550 mph). The deployment of Su-35s in this type of operation increases the risk calculus for U.S. interceptors, as they must manage both identification and escort duties while maintaining tactical separation from high-performance adversary fighters.

The Alaskan ADIZ is a critical component of the North American air defense structure. It extends roughly 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles or 230 miles) from the Alaskan coastline and provides NORAD with early warning and response options against approaching aircraft. While the ADIZ itself is not sovereign airspace, any aircraft entering it without identification or communication is treated as a potential threat and is subject to intercept by NORAD forces.

Interception operations serve several strategic purposes. First, they demonstrate U.S. resolve to defend its airspace and monitor every foreign military presence near its borders. Second, they allow NORAD to visually confirm aircraft type, configuration, and behavior. Third, they provide real-time readiness training for aircrews and command-and-control networks. In this case, the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron maintained visual contact through a rotating escort pattern, ensuring continuous monitoring of the Russian aircraft as they transited the ADIZ.

During the encounter, one of the Su-35s briefly maneuvered near the U.S. intercept formation in what was described as a deliberate approach. The F-16s adjusted formation to maintain safe separation, and no further posturing occurred. The intercept lasted approximately two hours, covering several hundred nautical miles (hundreds of kilometers) over the northern Pacific corridor.

Russian bomber patrols along the Arctic and North Pacific approaches have steadily increased in frequency over the past three years, coinciding with growing strategic competition in the Arctic region. As melting sea ice opens new maritime routes and expands military interest in northern airspace, both Russia and the United States have been ramping up surveillance, patrols, and forward deployments. Russia has also upgraded airbases in Chukotka and Kamchatka and expanded the presence of long-range aviation units capable of reaching U.S. and Canadian ADIZ sectors.

From an operational standpoint, the inclusion of Su-35 fighters alongside Tu-95MS bombers suggests that Russia is not merely conducting navigation training but is practicing escorted strategic strike packages, simulating conflict-relevant scenarios against the continental United States and allied territories. These missions allow the Russian military to test NORAD response timelines, gather electronic intelligence, and assess the deployment of American interceptors.

For the United States, such incursions require constant vigilance and rapid mobilization of defense resources. The intercept mission reflects the critical role of Eielson-based F-16 squadrons in safeguarding the approaches to North America. These aircrews operate under extreme Arctic conditions and are trained to respond within minutes to any potential threat.

As geopolitical tensions continue to escalate in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic theaters, air defense intercepts in the Alaskan ADIZ will likely increase in both complexity and frequency. NORAD’s ability to rapidly identify and shadow foreign military aircraft will remain a central pillar of North American defense strategy in the face of long-range adversary patrols and rising strategic pressure along the Pacific Rim.