U.S. National Security and Airspace

North American Aerospace Defense Command says it launched U.S. and Canadian fighter jets on March 4, 2026, after detecting two Russian Tu‑142 military aircraft operating in the Alaskan and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones. The response force included two U.S. Air Force F‑35s, two F‑22s, four KC‑135 refueling tankers, an E‑3 AWACS, two Canadian CF‑18s and a CC‑150 tanker to positively identify, monitor and intercept the Russian planes. NORAD emphasizes the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace, did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace, and that such ADIZ activity is routine and not viewed as a direct threat. The incident follows a similar encounter last month involving five Russian aircraft near the Bering Strait, underscoring steady Russian long‑range aviation patrols near North America as U.S. forces are deeply engaged in operations against Iran. The episode highlights how NORAD’s layered radar and fighter alert network continues to track and respond to Russian military flights even when they stay just outside national airspace.