NORAD Commander: Unsafe and Unprofessional Conduct by Russian Fighter off Alaska
Here, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet comes close to an American F-16 fighter jet in international airspace off the coast of Alaska on September 23rd. A Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber that the American fighter seeks to intercept can be seen beyond it. (Photo: NORAD)
The North American Aerospace Defense Command has published a video in which a Russian Su-35 fighter conducts a close maneuver toward a US F-16 fighter on an interception mission off the coast of Alaska. “The conduct was unprofessional and endangered all,” says NORAD Commander.
On September 23rd, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked four Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
"The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat," NORAD reported the same day.
This week, however, NORAD has published a video of an encounter between a US F-16 fighter and some of the Russian aircraft on September 23rd.
In the tape, the US fighter conducts an interception of a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber, and is then subjected to a very close maneuver by a Russian Su-35 fighter.
“NORAD aircraft flew a safe and disciplined intercept of Russian military aircraft in the Alaska ADIZ. The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d see in a professional air force," states General Gregory Gulliot, Commander of NORAD and the United States Northern Command.
Condemnation from Alaska Senator
Furthermore, US Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan (R) also comments on the incident:
"The reckless and unprofessional maneuvers of Russian fighter pilots – within just a few feet of our Alaska-based fighters – in Alaska's ADIZ on September 23 put the lives of our brave Airmen at risk and underscore the escalating aggression we're witnessing from dictators like Vladimir Putin," said Sullivan on Monday.
“We need to answer force with force and continue building up America’s military presence in Alaska and the Arctic with more infrastructure, like the strategic Arctic port at Nome and reopening the Adak Naval Air Facility, and more military assets," he adds.
