Russian and Chinese Bombers Intercepted by US and Canada Near Alaska

July 25th, Alaska (US) :
The United States responded to joint Russian and Chinese operations by intercepting a group of bombers near Alaska, according to CNN, citing a US defense official. This marks the first instance of such an action. The planes, which included two Russian TU-95 Bears and two Chinese H-6s, were "not seen as a threat" according to NORAD, and they were flying in international airspace within the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) encompassing Alaska.

U.S. F-16 and F-35 fighters and Canadian CF-18 jets conducted the intercept with the primary goal of preventing the plane from violating sovereign airspace of either the United States or Canada. The incident involving four Russian aircraft in May is only one example of how frequently such runs into Alaska's ADIZ occur with Russian TU-95s, according to NORAD.

A noteworthy development, though, is the incorporation of Chinese bombers into this scenario. As reported by CNN, this episode was the first time that the H-6 bombers—upgraded versions of earlier Soviet models—were seen approaching Alaska's ADIZ. During a Senate hearing earlier this year, US Northern Command General Gregory Guillot stated that the Chinese have demonstrated a growing desire to expand their influence into the Arctic region. This was something he had foreseen, pointing to China's increasing meddling in Arctic matters and its strategic shifts northward, which they have concealed behind claims of scientific or technological missions but which have obvious military overtones.

"What I have seen is a willingness and a desire by the Chinese to act up there," Guillot stated during his testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee event. In the marine, we have observed them. Although we have observed them in the context of technical or scientific study, we are of the belief that they serve multiple purposes, including military ones. Afterwards, I anticipate the possibility of seeing aerial activity in the Arctic region encompassing Alaska this year.

"It is a very big concern of mine," he pointed out. China, whose strategic goals go beyond marine operations into aerial operations, is one of the new entrants to the Arctic security scene, joining more established powers like Russia. This incident highlights the changing dynamics in this arena. The recent intercept did not lead to a security breach, according to NORAD, but it does show how vigilantly international airspace around sensitive zones is being monitored.