NORAD detects and tracks Russian aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked two Tu-95s, two Su-35s, and one A-50 operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), a designated area of international airspace requiring identification, on Feb.19, 2026.

In response, NORAD launched two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3, and four KC-135s to intercept, positively identify, and escort the aircraft until they departed the Alaskan ADIZ.

The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is typically not seen as a threat.

While this ADIZ isn’t sovereign U.S. airspace, the region is a strategic zone given its proximity to Russia. NORAD noted in their statement that the Russian activity that occurred on Thursday was not seen "as a threat."

An ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security.

NORAD continues to use a layered defense network, including satellites, ground-based radars, and fighter aircraft, to monitor the region, and remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America.