Russian surveillance aircraft enters Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone three times over the past three days

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Alaska Region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD has “detected, tracked and identified” Russian surveillance aircraft in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on “three separate occasions, over the past three days.”

NORAD says a Russian surveillance aircraft came within 20 nautical miles of the Alaska coast and remained in international airspace. It did not enter American or Canadian airspace. NORAD tracks and identifies military aircraft that enter the ADIZ and if necessary escorts aircraft from the ADIZ.

While there was no perceived threat, F-22 fighter jets were deployed to conduct surveillance of the Russian aircraft. This comes less than two weeks after U.S. bombers were met by Russian fighter jets over the Black Sea.

The recent Russian activity also occurred while Red Flag exercises are underway in Alaska. The United States Air Force conducts aerial combat training exercises for military pilots and flight crew members from the U.S. and allied countries.

Although the incidences this week are not seen as a threat, the aircraft did enter the zone that is seen by some as a contentious space.