US Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Warplanes Off Alaskan Coast

Nine U.S. Fighter jets were scrambled on Thursday, February 19, 2026, to intercept five Russian warplanes flying near Alaska, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The incident involved two Tu-95 long-range strategic bombers, two Su-35 fighter planes, and one A-50 spy plane operating within Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Details of the Interception

NORAD responded by launching two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3 airborne warning and control aircraft, and four KC-135 refueling planes to identify and escort the Russian aircraft. The intercept ensured the Russian planes were monitored and guided out of the ADIZ.

According to NORAD, the Russian aircraft did not enter U.S. Or Canadian airspace. CBS News reported that such activity is considered a regular occurrence and is not typically seen as a threat.

What is the Alaskan ADIZ?

The Alaskan ADIZ is a defined stretch of international airspace where the United States and Canada require the identification of all aircraft for national security purposes. It marks the outer perimeter of U.S. And Canadian sovereign airspace. NORAD defines it as a zone requiring the ready identification of all aircraft.

Recent Similar Incidents

Similar intercepts have occurred previously. In September 2025, U.S. Fighter jets intercepted two Tu-95s and two Su-35s in the same zone. In August 2025, a Russian IL-20 COOT reconnaissance aircraft was intercepted four times in one week. In September 2024, NORAD released video footage of a Russian jet flying close to a U.S. Aircraft within the ADIZ. In July 2024, U.S. Forces intercepted both Russian and Chinese bombers entering the Alaskan ADIZ, marking the first joint entry by those nations’ aircraft.

Potential Motivations

Even as NORAD considers these events routine, they could also be interpreted as a test of U.S. And NATO preparedness.

Source: The Independent, CBS News, Daily Mail, MSN