NORAD Releases Images of U.S. Fighter Aircraft Intercepting Russian Aircraft Off Alaska

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) recently provided detailed insight into operations involving U.S. fighter aircraft intercepting Russian aircraft. On February 18, 2025, NORAD issued a press release confirming the detection and tracking of Russian military planes operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

According to NORAD, the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace throughout the encounters and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign territory. Such activity by Russian military aircraft in the Alaskan ADIZ is described as regular and not considered a threat.

Adding significant visual context to these events, NORAD has now released striking images captured by the U.S. military aircraft involved in the intercepts. These photographs shed more light on the close encounters that took place earlier this week.

U.S. F-35 fighter jets intercepting a Russian Tu-95 bomber over the Chukchi Sea on February 19.

The images, specifically taken on February 18 and 19 over the Bering and Chukchi Seas, depict U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters tracking two Russian Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers. These bombers were notably escorted by two Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets. A key detail highlighted by the images is that the Russian Su-35S Flanker E aircraft were armed, carrying pairs of R-77 and R-73 air-to-air missiles.

Russian missions within the Alaska ADIZ occur with some frequency and are often interpreted as attempts to test U.S. military tactics and reaction times. There is also speculation that these operations are conducted in conjunction with other Russian assets, such as A-50 Mainstay or Il-20M Coot-A intelligence aircraft operating nearby, potentially attempting to monitor the electromagnetic emissions of U.S. fighters like the F-35. However, it’s important to note that the F-35s involved in these intercepts were equipped with Radar Cross Section (RCS) enhancers, also known as “Luneburg lenses” or “radar reflectors.” This indicates they were not operating in their full stealth configuration, a standard procedure for peacetime Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions designed to avoid exposing sensitive details about their radar signature.

The F-35As involved, identifiable by their “AK” tail code, are part of the 354th Fighter Wing based at Eielson Air Force Base. Both the 355th and 356th Fighter Squadrons operate from this base, which recently drew attention after a video circulated online showing an F-35A crashing within the base perimeter on January 28, 2025 (the pilot ejected safely).

While F-35s stationed in Alaska have previously been involved in intercepting Russian or Chinese aircraft packages, it is uncommon to see officially released imagery showing the 5th-generation U.S. aircraft flying in such close proximity to Russian Flanker variants.

Understanding the Air Defense Identification Zone

An Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is a designated area of international airspace extending beyond a country’s sovereign airspace where identifying all aircraft is crucial for national security. As distinct from territorial airspace, which extends 12 nautical miles from the coastline and is considered sovereign territory requiring explicit permission for foreign aircraft entry, the ADIZ serves a different function.

An ADIZ is specifically established to enforce strict identification, tracking, and control procedures for aircraft for national security reasons. Aircraft entering these zones without proper authorization may be intercepted by Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) fighter aircraft. Although ADIZ boundaries are not strictly defined by international law and often extend beyond national airspace and territorial waters, civil aircraft entering them are closely monitored and required to provide flight details. While military aircraft not intending to enter national airspace are generally exempt from standard ADIZ procedures, foreign military planes operating within an ADIZ may still be intercepted, identified, and escorted.

A Notable Previous Incident

While the most recent intercepts in February 2025 were described as “uneventful” by NORAD, encounters between Russian and U.S. aircraft in the Alaska ADIZ have not always been so calm.

A significant episode occurred on September 23, 2024, when NORAD assets conducted a similar mission to track four Russian military aircraft (again, two Tu-95 Bear bombers escorted by two Su-35S fighters) operating in international airspace within the Alaska ADIZ. During that intercept, a Russian Su-35 executed what was described as a “dangerous maneuver.” Video footage released from the cockpit of a U.S. F-16C fighter scrambled to intercept and escort the Russian aircraft captured the moment the Russian Su-35 fighter jet turned abruptly towards the F-16.

Commenting on the September incident, Gen. Gregory Guillot, Commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, stated, “On Monday (Sept. 23), NORAD aircraft flew a safe and disciplined intercept of Russian military aircraft in the Alaskan ADIZ. The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d see in a professional air force.”

In conclusion, the recent release of images by NORAD provides a rare visual record of the routine but complex interactions between U.S. and Russian military aircraft in the strategically important airspace off the coast of Alaska, set against the backdrop of previous, more tense encounters.