F-35s, F-22s and CF-18, supported by tankers and AWACS, have been scrambled by NORAD to intercept two Russian Tu-142 working within the Alaskan and Canadian Air Protection Identification Zones.
For the second time this yr, the North American Aerospace Protection Command (NORAD) reported an intercept of Russian navy plane, particularly two Russian Tupolev Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare plane. On Mar. 4, 2026, NORAD scrambled twelve U.S. and Canadian plane to intercept and monitor the Tu-142s.
The allied plane included two U.S. Air Power F-35A Lightning IIs and two F-22 Raptors, in addition to two Royal Canadian Air Power (RCAF) CF-18 fighters (Canadian designation for the F/A-18C/D Hornets). These have been supported by 4 KC-135 Stratotankers, one E-3 Airborne Warning and Management System (AWACS) and one CC-150 tanker from the RCAF.
The Russian plane exercise comes as NORAD is overseeing the Arctic Edge 26 train, centered on “Cruise Missile Protection actions with F-35s from the Alaskan NORAD Area (ANR) in Alaska,” the command mentioned on Mar. 5 on X. Neither NORAD, nor the Russian Ministry of Protection launched any photos and visuals of the intercept on the time of writing.
PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – The North American Aerospace Protection Command (NORAD) detected and tracked two Russian TU-142 navy plane working within the Alaskan and Canadian Air Protection Identification Zones (ADIZ) on March 4, 2026.
NORAD launched two U.S. Air Power…
— North American Aerospace Protection Command (@NORADCommand) March 5, 2026
Intercepts of Russian plane by NORAD are widespread, with the newest going down off Alaska on Feb. 19, 2026. Earlier intercepts in the previous couple of years have included, beside the Tu-142, the Tu-95 Bear bomber and Su-35 fighters.
NORAD CF-18s from the 🇨🇦 Canadian NORAD Area (CANR) launch in assist of #ArcticEdge26 to conduct Cruise Missile Protection actions with F-35s from the 🇺🇸 Alaskan NORAD Area (ANR) in Alaska.
Coaching in opposition to simulated airborne threats strengthens our layered protection and… pic.twitter.com/0Zn4cklo2R
— North American Aerospace Protection Command (@NORADCommand) March 4, 2026
Tu-142s in Alaskan and Canadian ADIZs
NORAD mentioned on Mar. 4 it “detected and tracked two Russian TU-142 navy plane working within the Alaskan and Canadian” ADIZs, after which launched the 12-aircraft bundle “to positively determine, monitor, and intercept the Russian plane.” As is the same old case with all intercepts, NORAD clarified that the Russian plane flight was perceived as routine exercise, which didn’t violate nationwide U.S. and Canadian airspace and didn’t undertake hostile actions or maneuvers.
“The Russian plane remained in worldwide airspace and didn’t enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace,” mentioned NORAD’s assertion. “This Russian exercise within the Alaskan and Canadian ADIZ happens frequently and isn’t seen as a menace.”
The Russian MoD launched footage from the VKS sorties into the Alaskan ADIZ.Prime left: a Su-35S and an F-35A (filmed from a Tu-95MS).Prime proper: an F-35A (filmed from a Tu-95MS).Backside left: a pair of F-16Cs (filmed from a Su-35S).Backside proper: a pair of F-16Cs. pic.twitter.com/RmSAJCB6vg
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) February 20, 2026
As we regularly defined in our earlier studies, an Air Protection Identification Zone (ADIZ) isn’t a rustic’s sovereign nationwide airspace. It’s merely a notional boundary envisioned for an advance warning of approaching plane and to permit adequate time to reply.
NORAD described this saying “An ADIZ begins the place sovereign airspace ends and is an outlined stretch of worldwide airspace that requires the prepared identification of all plane within the curiosity of nationwide safety.”
As for the continuing Arctic Edge 2026 train, the caption of a picture on DVIDS, exhibiting two RCAF CF-18s taxiing at Eielson AFB, Alaska, mentioned: “AE26 is a Northern American Aerospace Protection Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command-led homeland protection train designed to enhance readiness, show capabilities, and improve Joint and Allied Power interoperability within the Arctic.”
Earlier Tu-142 and Tu-95 intercepts
Within the Feb. 19, 2026, intercept, the Russian bundle was bigger, comprising two Tu-95 Bears, two Su-35s, and one A-50 AEW (Airborne Early Warning) plane. The U.S. Air Power had additionally launched a big intercept pressure of 9 plane, which included two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3, and 4 KC-135s tankers.
The Tu-142 plane, derived from the Tu-95, has additionally been intercepted in Alaska’s ADIZ earlier than. On Mar. 9, 2020, in an intercept within the Alaskan ADIZ we reported right here at The Aviationist, two Tu-142s have been intercepted by a mixture of U.S. and Canadian warplanes much like the Mar. 4, 2026 occasion.
These included two U.S. F-22 Raptors and two Canadian CF-18s, supported by a KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry AWACS plane. On the time, NORAD mentioned the Tu-142s entered the Alaskan ADIZ from the north and remained inside it over the Beaufort Sea for practically 4 hours, coming as shut as 50 miles of the Alaskan coast. Allied plane escorted them for your entire length.
That is what we wrote on the time: “Whereas the particular causes for the intercepts are unknown, Tu-142s perform long-range navigations and participate to workouts with naval models a couple of times a yr (or at the very least, the focus missions near the NATO airspace borders in a few durations, March being considered one of these). As typically defined intimately, Bears generally fly close to worldwide borders to gather knowledge a few nation’s air protection community and to gather mapping and indicators intelligence to construct a communications and early warning ‘Order of Battle’ in order that radio and radar frequencies will be recognized and cataloged for future use.”
U.S. F-22s, Canadian CF-18s Intercepted Two Tu-142 Plane in Alaskan ADIZ. And Right here Are Some Cool Photographs: pic.twitter.com/aQQttekNLC
— The Aviationist (@TheAviationist) March 10, 2020
A couple of days later, on Mar. 14, 2020, NORAD despatched up F-22s, E-3s and KC-135s, this time to intercept “two pairs” of Russian Tu-142s within the Alaskan ADIZ. This occurred whereas a submarine element of the U.S. Navy’s biennial Ice Train (ICEX) was underway.
The 4 Tu-142s entered the ADIZ from the West and North of Alaska, respectively. The western pair of Tu-142s remained throughout the ADIZ for about 4 hours and loitered within the ICEX’s neighborhood, whereas the northern pair spent roughly quarter-hour, and all 4 plane have been escorted by F-22s your entire time.
Jan. 25, 2021 and Mar. 29, 2021 once more noticed two Tu-142s on every of the events intercepted by NORAD, with fighters despatched up from the Joint-Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska.
Different Russian intercepts in Alaskan ADIZ by NORAD
Final yr, on Sep. 24, 2025, NORAD detected and tracked two Tu-95s and two Su-35s within the Alaskan ADIZ, and responded with an E-3, 4 F-16s, and 4 KC-135 tankers. Then, between Aug. 20 and 26, 2025, it tracked an Ilyushin Il-20 COOT-A Alerts Intelligence (SIGINT) plane 4 occasions, responding with E-3s, F-16s, KC-135s.
Whereas not unusual, the frequency of three flights inside a six-day span drew consideration, notably amid heightened geopolitical tensions and the continuing Northern Edge 2025 drill.
