Updated 02/15/23 at 03:48
Although the operation is described as “routine” by the American authorities, it took place in the tense context of the war in Ukraine and the Chinese balloon affair in the skies of the United States. Two American warplanes intercepted four Russian planes near Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) said on Tuesday.
This interception of Russian aircraft, including models of the Tu-95 heavy bomber and Su-35 fighter, took place on Monday, Norad said. This is an operation consisting of escorting a potentially competing aircraft that is deemed too close to or has invaded an airspace.
An operation “in international airspace”
“Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not invade US or Canadian sovereign airspace,” he added, noting that such Russian activities “occurred regularly and were not considered a threat or provocative activity.”
If that interception was a routine operation, February saw the North American-based fighter jets have an opportunity to conduct real and rare offensive air action by shooting down a Chinese balloon described by Washington as a spy off the east coast of the country and three other unidentified flying objects.