Increased Russian Air Activity Near Alaska Sparks Military Watch by NORAD

Fighter jet in flight against a clear blue sky.

Increased Russian air activities near Alaska draw strategic U.S. military interest.

Key Insights

A Russian military aircraft was detected in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Monday.
The aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.
NORAD stated that such Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ is regular and not considered a threat.
The ADIZ is a region of international airspace requiring identification of all aircraft for national security.
NORAD detected two Russian military aircraft in February and multiple instances in 2024.
NORAD is prepared to employ response options to defend North America.

Increased Russian Air Activities

Russian military aircraft were recently detected within the Alaskan ADIZ, stirring up strategic concern among U.S. military circles. These craft, however, respected the boundaries of international airspace, steering clear of infringements on U.S. or Canadian territories, as confirmed by

NORAD emphasized the routine nature of such events but remains in a ready state to address potential threats effectively. This vigilance stems from not only recent findings but also multiple occurrences in 2024 and prior years.

NORAD’s Stance and Preparedness

The organization clarifies that these air activities, while frequent, do not pose an immediate threat. “This Russian activity in Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” stated NORAD in a recent press release.

On top of this, NORAD employs a multi-layered defense mechanism involving radars, satellites, and fighter aircraft. The purpose is to ensure North America’s airspace security while maintaining robust surveillance and defenses.

Six Russian military aircraft were tracked operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone for about 2 1/2 hours Monday, according to NORAD.https://t.co/lD0wYlbDK3

— Anchorage Daily News (@adndotcom) April 16, 2025

Senator’s Perspective

Senator Dan Sullivan has vocalized his thoughts on fortifying the U.S. presence to fend off any looming threats possibly arising from overall foreign collaborations. “I agree with NORAD to the certain degree that it’s not a direct threat to our state right now, but is this something that we need to try to prevent and show American military strength in Alaska to deter?” Sullivan expressed the significance of this collaboration between Russia and China, stating, “It’s also a demonstration of these two adversaries of ours — Russia and China, two of the biggest dictators on the march — clearly working together more closely, and they are pressing us.”