Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters, such as the one pictured in this file photo, scrambled to shadow Russian long-range bombers operating near Scotland on August 14, 2023.
THE WATCH STAFF
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked four Russian warplanes on August 13-14, 2023, within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). At the same time, the British and Dutch air forces scrambled jets to monitor two Russian bombers operating in Europe.
“This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” NORAD said in a news release. Russian aircraft also entered the ADIZ on April 17, May 11, May 15 and July 3.
“An ADIZ 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,” according to a NORAD spokesperson.
“NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars and fighter aircraft to track aircraft and inform appropriate actions. NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America,” the command said.
Also on August 14, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands dispatched warplanes to shadow two long-range maritime patrol bombers near Scotland’s Shetland Islands, the U.K.’s defense ministry said.
“Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots launched Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighters to intercept two Russian long-range maritime patrol bombers this morning as they transited north of the Shetland Islands,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Typhoon fighters took off from RAF Lossiemouth, one of two RAF Quick Reaction Alert Stations. Also scrambled was a Voyager refueling aircraft. The ministry identified the Russian planes as Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J maritime patrol aircraft, typically used in “reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare,” the ministry said. The bombers were flying north of the islands.
Like NORAD, the RAF noted that such incidents are not unusual. “RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over U.K. airspace and are always ready to take action at a moment’s notice to keep our country safe,” U.K. Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey said.
The Russian aircraft tracked eastward, prompting a response from Dutch forces. The Netherlands’ defense ministry said in a statement that two F-16 fighter jets from Volkel Air Base were deployed to intercept the Russian aircraft.
“The Dutch F-16s remained ready to guard the Dutch area of responsibility,” the ministry said. “Today’s incident demonstrates the importance of rapid deployment. The F-16s are on standby 24 hours a day and can take off within minutes and intercept an unidentified aircraft.”