China, Russia bombers fly off Alaska, trigger first U.S. intercept

Two partners expand joint activity from Asia to East Pacific

Two Russian Tu-95 and two Chinese H-6 military aircraft were detected operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. (NORAD)

KEN MORIYASU, Nikkei Asia diplomatic correspondent

July 26, 2024 02:24 JST

WASHINGTON -- U.S. and Canadian fighter jets intercepted a joint Russian-Chinese bomber operation near Alaska this week, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

NORAD, a binational command of the American and Canadian armed forces, said it "detected, tracked, and intercepted" two Russian Tu-95s and two Chinese H-6s operating in the Alaska air defense identification zone on Wednesday.