The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) deployed 12 aircraft to intercept two Russian Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft in the air defense identification zone near Alaska and Canada. The National Interest described such a response as a deliberate show of force against the backdrop of the US military operation against Iran.
The interception group included two F-22 Raptor fighters, two F-35A Lightning II aircraft, four KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling tankers, one E-3 Sentry airborne early warning aircraft, two Canadian CF-18 Hornets, and one Canadian CC-150 Polaris tanker. The Russian aircraft did not violate the sovereign airspace of the United States and Canada and remained in the neutral zone — the air defense identification zone, which begins 12 nautical miles from the coastline and extends for 300 miles. According to NORAD, such Russian flights in this area occur regularly and are not regarded as a threat.
According to The National Interest, a pair of F-22s would have been sufficient for the interception — the massive response was intended to signal to Moscow that, despite the war with Iran, the United States is capable of operating at full strength in any direction. This is already the second interception of Russian aircraft in North American air defense zones in 2026.
The Tu-142 is an anti-submarine and maritime reconnaissance aircraft based on the Tu-95 strategic bomber; the "MR" version specializes in maintaining communications with submarine missile carriers.