NORAD intercepts Russian and Chinese nuclear bombers near Alaska for first time

For the first time, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese nuclear-capable strategic bombers flying together near the Alaska region,on Wednesday (July 24),according to US defence officials.

"The Russian and PRC aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian and PRC activity in the Alaska ADIZ (Air defence identification zone) is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence," a statement from NORAD said.

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The Russian TU-95 Bear and Chinese H-6 bombers did not enter the United States or Canada-controlled airspace, NORAD, a joint bi-national command between the two nations, said.

According to the defence officials, US F-16 and F-35 fighter planes and Canadian CF-18 fighter jets conducted the intercept.

'Not aimed at third parties'

Chinese and Russian air forces conducted a “joint strategic aerial patrol in the relevant airspace of the Bering Sea” on Thursday (July 25), said China's defenceministry.

The ministry also said this joint patrol was part of an annual cooperation plan between themilitaries of Moscow and Beijing.

The spokesperson for China's defenceministry, Zhang Xiaogang, said that this is the eighth such exercise conducted by themilitaries of the two countries since 2019.

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Zhang said that the exercise was aimed at “further testing and enhancing the level of cooperation between the two air forces, as well as deepening strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two countries.”

“This action is not aimed at third parties, it is in line with relevant international laws and international practices and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation,” headded.

While the presence of Russian planes in the Alaskan air defence identification zone is common, Chinese planes are adding a new layer of complexity to the situation.

Russian flights into Alaska’s ADIZ are not uncommon. In May, Russia flew four aircraft into Alaska’s ADIZ, which NORAD said “occurs regularly.”

However, the presence of Chinese aircraft appears to be a new development.

General Gregory Guillot, the commander of US Northern Command, in March, said that due to China's continued drive northward, he anticipated seeing aircraft in the Arctic "as soon as this year potentially."

“What I have seen is a willingness and a desire by the Chinese to act up there,” Guillot said at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“We have seen them in the maritime. We have seen them under the cloud of technical or scientific research, but we think it is certainly multi-mission, including military. And then I expect to see air activity in the Alaska part of the Arctic as soon as this year, potentially," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)