Summary and Key Points: In a significant display of military cooperation, Russian Tupolev Tu-95 and Chinese Xi'an H-6 bombers conducted a joint patrol near the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) this week. Detected and intercepted by NORAD, the bombers remained in international airspace and did not pose a threat to North American security.
-This unprecedented joint patrol highlights the deepening military ties between Russia and China. NORAD's response included fighter jets from both the U.S. and Canada, ensuring robust monitoring of the activity.
-Despite the heightened alert, the patrol adhered to international law, with no violations of U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace.
It hasn't been uncommon in recent years for Russian Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO reporting name Bear) long-range bombers to be spotted near, and even within, the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The Kremlin has increased what it calls routine patrols over neutral waters, but what made the flight on Wednesday "unique" is that a pair of the Tu-95s was accompanied by two Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force Xi'an H-6 bombers.
The H-6, which is the PLAAF's primary bomber aircraft, is a license-built version of the Soviet-designed Tupolev Tu-16.
According to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), it "detected, tracked, and intercepted" the four aircraft – with NORAD fighter jets from both the United States and Canada taking part in Wednesday's intercept.
"The Russian and PRC aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian and PRC activity in the Alaska ADIZ is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence," NORAD announced.
It was clear where the U.S. and Canadian aircraft were deployed from, or what kind of fighters took part in the intercept. In the past U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons have been sortied to intercept the Russian bombers, while Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) – headquartered at the 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba, operates the CF-18 Hornet, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) variant of the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has claimed that the patrol "was carried out as part of the 2024 military cooperation plan and was not directed against third countries," while it claimed the joint flight of the Chinese and Russian bombers lasted more than five hours.
"An air group of the Tu-95MS strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Hong-6K strategic bombers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force conducted a joint air patrol over the Chukchi Sea, the Bering Sea and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. Russian and Chinese crews practiced cooperation while carrying out an air patrol mission in a new area. The Su-30SM and Su-35S aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces provided fighter cover," read a statement from the ministry to state media outlet TASS.
The ministry further stressed that none of the two sets of bombers violated the airspace of the United States or any other country, but acknowledged the intercept.
"Foreign fighter jets escorted the air group at certain stages of the route. While performing the mission, both countries' aircraft acted in strict compliance with international law. There were no violations of other countries' airspace," the statement noted.
NORAD also stressed that the Chinese and Russian aircraft never entered U.S. airspace during the patrol flight, but did enter the ADIZ, which "begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security."
The Russian Aerospace Force continues to operate the Tu-95MS, a highly updated heavy variant of the early Cold War era aircraft that first entered service in 1952. It is now among the oldest aircraft designs still flying anywhere in the world and is the only propeller-powered bomber in operation today.
Yet, it continues to log the miles in the sky. The current models have a reported range that is greater than 9,300 miles (15,000 km) – allowing to make the round-trip flights to the Alaskan ADIZ from bases in the Russian Far East.
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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