NORAD identified Tu-142 Russian reconnaissance aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone
North American Aerospace Defense Command identified a group of two Tu-142 Russian maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019.
The defense of Canada and the United States is NORAD's top priority. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace west of mainland Alaska and at no time did the aircraft enter sovereign United States airspace.