On February 20, 2026, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed that U.S. fighter jets were scrambled to intercept five Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The formation included two Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets, and one A-50 surveillance plane. NORAD reiterated that these aircraft did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace and were not considered a threat, stating, "The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace." In response, NORAD deployed two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3 surveillance aircraft, and four KC-135 refueling tankers to escort the Russian planes until they exited the ADIZ. This operation underscores the strategic importance of the Alaskan ADIZ in U.S. defense operations, as it requires identification of all aircraft in the area.