Eight Russian aircraft and refueling tankers were intercepted by U.S. and Canadian fighter jets off the coast of Alaska this week, officials said.
Maj. Beth Smith, a spokeswoman with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, said the Russian craft were likely involved in "training exercises" when they were noticed on the night of Sept. 17 and the morning of Sept. 18.
The craft did not enter United States or Canadian airspace, but were located in an Air Defense Identification Zone that sits roughly 200 miles from the Alaskan coast, Smith said. Commercial flights can enter that airspace but must identify themselves.
Smith said NORAD has intercepted more than 50 Russian long-range bombers in the area in the last five years. The area has become a hotbed for shipping traffic and other craft due to the rapid melting of the polar ice cap, causing a rush to reach mineral deposits and newly created shipping lanes.
On Sept. 17, two F-22 fighter jets intercepted two Russian Bear long-range bombers, two Mig-31 fighter jets and two refueling tankers at about 7 p.m.
Less than seven hours later, two Canadian CF-18 fighter jets intercepted two bombers in the Beaufort Sea, Davis said.
Davis declined to say what an "intercept" entails, citing security protocols.
Agence France-Presse: 20. September 2014
Six Russian fighter jets were intercepted near Alaska
Six Russian MiG 35 fighter jets entered a US "air defense identification zone" Friday and were intercepted by American and Canadian warplanes near Alaska, two US defense officials said.
Although Russian aircraft have entered the zone previously it was "the first time in a long time" that fighter jets passed through the area, a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
The Russian planes left the area without incident, he said.
Associated Press: 19. September 2014
Sweden says Russian military jets violate air space
STOCKHOLM — Sweden says it has summoned the Russian ambassador over an air space violation by two Russian military aircraft.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry said the planes crossed into Swedish air space south of the Baltic Sea island of Oland on Wednesday. The ministry called it a "serious violation."
Swedish newspaper Expressen first reported the incident, saying the planes were Sukhoi Su-24 combat planes that left Swedish air space when a Swedish Air Force fighter approached.
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