US and Canadian warplanes intercepted Russian and Chinese military aircraft operating in the international airspace near Alaska, hours before President Joe Biden delivered his first address from the Oval Office on Thursday.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported the significant military engagement off the coast of Alaska.
On July 24, NORAD intercepted two Russian Tu-95 “Bear” bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers operating within the Alaska ADIZ.
The zone is a perimeter in which air traffic is monitored beyond the border of national airspace to provide additional reaction time in case of hostile actions.
In a press release, NORAD confirmed that its fighter jets from both the United States and Canada were deployed to track and intercept the aircraft.
The agency noted that the Russian and Chinese bombers remained in international airspace throughout the incident and did not breach American or Canadian sovereign airspace.
Intercepts of Russian aircraft – in which they are contacted visually or electronically by US or Canadian planes – are relatively common in the area.
“NORAD detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on July 24, 2024. NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept,” the agency said.

Despite the high-profile nature of the interception, NORAD emphasized that the incident was not perceived as a direct threat. “This Russian and PRC activity in the Alaska ADIZ is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence,” NORAD added.
The timing of the interception, occurring just hours before President Biden’s address, has led to speculation about possible connections between the two events. However, it remains unclear if the military activity was related to the President’s upcoming speech or merely coincidental.