On July 24, 2024, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected, tracked, and intercepted a joint Russian and Chinese bomber flight group operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This is the first time that Russian and Chinese bombers have been intercepted while operating together near Alaska. The flight group consisted of two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers. NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept, ensuring that the foreign aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter US or Canadian sovereign airspace.
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According to NORAD, the Russian and Chinese bombers were "not seen as a threat," and the organization will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence. This incident comes just days after the Kremlin's Defense Ministry said it intercepted two U.S. B-52N bombers near Russia's borders on Sunday. It also marks the first time that Chinese H-6 bombers have entered the Alaska ADIZ.
The Alaska ADIZ is a strip of international airspace near where sovereign airspace ends that is monitored for aircraft. Its primary purpose is to facilitate the swift identification and monitoring of all aircraft entering this designated space. Senator Dan Sullivan from Alaska said in a statement that this is an escalation and the first time Russia and China have sent a joint bomber task force into the Alaska ADIZ. He emphasized that Alaska continues to be on the frontlines of authoritarian aggression by the dictators in Russia and China.
NORAD is a collaborative organization between the United States of America and Canada, responsible for safeguarding the airspace of both nations. In conclusion, the interception of the joint Russian and Chinese bomber flight group near Alaska is a significant event that highlights the growing military cooperation between Russia and China and the ongoing tensions in the region.