United States intercepted six Russian military aircraft approached the west coast of Alaska, military authorities reported Friday.
Colonel Michael Jazdyk spokesman Command North American Aerospace Defense, NORAD for its acronym in English, said American jets intercepted the Russian aircraft about 55 nautical miles (100 kilometers) off the coast of Alaska.
The Russian aircraft were identified as two tankers to transport fuel IL-78, two fighter jets and two Mig-31 Bear bombers at long range. They turned south and returned to their base in Russia were sent after American jets.
Two Canadian fighter jets intercepted CF-18 bombers about 40 nautical miles (74 kilometers) off the Canadian coast in the Beaufort Sea.
In both cases, Russian aircraft entered the Area Air Defense Identification, which stretches for about 321 kilometers from the coast. They did not enter the sovereign airspace of the United States or Canada.
Jazdyk said fighter jets were sent at full speed and "simply made them know that these aircraft and we see that in case of a threat are here to protect the sovereign airspace."
In recent years the jets under NORAD command have intercepted more than 50 Russian bombers approaching North American airspace.
NORAD is a binational command between Canada and the United States responsible for air defense in both countries.
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