US fighter jets try to intercept Russian planes

BY A STAFF REPORTER: North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said us warplanes had intercepted six Russian aircraft operating in international airspace near Alaska. Russian aircraft include Tu-95 bombers, IL-78 tankers and Su-35 fighter jets.

NORAD described the interception as "routine" and said it occurs about six or seven times per year in the so-called Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone. "Russia's activity in north American ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat," NORAD said in a statement. NORAD tracks and positively identifies all military aircraft entering ADIZ, regularly monitors aircraft movements, and escorts them from ADIZ as necessary. "

U.S. aircraft involved in the incident included F-16 and F-22 fighter jets, KC-135 Stratotenker and E-3 AWACS.