US F-22 jets intercept Russian maritime patrol aircraft off Alaska

Washington DC: The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) F-22s intercepted two Russian IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the late hours of June 24.

The Russian aircraft came within 50 miles of Unimak Island along the Aleutian island chain, spending approximately four hours in the ADIZ before exiting, the command said in a statement.

“The IL-38s remained in international airspace and at no time did the aircraft enter the United States or Canadian sovereign airspace,” it stated.