USAF F-22 Raptors intercept Russian Tu-95 bombers off the coast of Alaska

USAF F-22 Raptors intercept Russian Tu-95 bombers off the coast of Alaska

By Dario Leone
May 15 2018
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“The Tu-95 bombers were intercepted and monitored by the F-22s until the bombers left the ADIZ along the Aleutian Island chain heading west, and never entered US airspace,” NORAD spokesman Canadian Army Maj. Andrew Hennessy

On May 11, 2018 two Russian TU-95 “Bear” strategic bombers were intercepted by U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-22 stealth fighters in international airspace off the coast of Alaska, according to North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command.

According CNN, the Russian long-range bombers flew into the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which extends approximately 200 miles off Alaska’s western coast.

“At approximately 10 a.m. ET, two Alaskan-based NORAD F-22 fighters intercepted and visually identified two Russian TU-95 ‘Bear’ long-range bomber aircraft flying in the Air Defense Identification Zone around the western coast of Alaska, north of the Aleutian Islands,” NORAD and USNORTHCOM spokesman Canadian Army Maj. Andrew Hennessy said in a statement.

The Russian aircraft were “intercepted and monitored by the F-22s until the bombers left the ADIZ along the Aleutian Island chain heading west,” and never entered U.S. airspace, according to the statement.

The last such intercept of Russian aircraft by U.S. jets took place on May 3, 2017.

On that occasion, the F-22s, which were supported by an E-3 AWACS and a KC-135 tanker aircraft, intercepted the Tu-95s about 100 miles southwest of Kodiak, told Wilsbach.

The bombers were escorted by Sukhoi Su-35 fighters and were unarmed. No verbal contact took place between the “Bears” and fighters crews.

USAF F-22 Raptors intercept Russian Tu-95 bombers off the coast of Alaska
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-22A Raptor 192nd Fighter Wing, 149th Fighter Squadron, FF/04-4082 – Langley AFB, VA – 2014

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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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