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Press Releases
Press Release | May 17, 2023

NORAD detects Russian aircraft operating in Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone

North American Aerospace Defense Command

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked a Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on May 15, 2023.

The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This flight occurred as several planned large-scale military training exercises are ongoing in and around Alaska.

This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat.

An ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification, location and control of all aircraft in the interest of national security.

NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars and fighter aircraft to track and identify aircraft and inform appropriate actions. NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For further information, please contact NORAD Public Affairs at (719) 554-6889 or via email at n-ncpa.omb@mail.mil.

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