NORAD discovers 4 Russian military aircraft near Alaska after US military recently sent soldiers to the area

The North American Aerospace Defense Command said it detected four Russian military aircraft flying near Alaska on Monday, less than two weeks after U.S. soldiers were deployed to the area as part of a “force protection operation” amid an increase in Russian and Chinese military exercises in the region.

The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said in a statement. “This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ is routine and is not considered a threat,” the statement said.

NORAD intercepted Russian military aircraft flying near Alaska several times this month.

The Army sent elements of the 11th Airborne Division to Shemya Island, Alaska, on Sept. 12 in a show of “ready, lethal force” in response to Russian military exercises in the area, the Army said at the time. The division is known as the Arctic Angels and they are normally based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright in Alaska.

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