Report: US intercepts 4 Russian fighter jets near Alaska
The Russian jet interception part of a spike in US-Russian tensions.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: MAY 5, 2017 02:23Russian Sukhoi Su military jets, including Su-35S Super-Flanker fighters.(photo credit: REUTERS/MAXIM SHEMETOV)
Two Russian bombers escorted by Su-35 "Flanker" fighter jets entered the Alaskan Air Defense Zone Thursday morning, Fox News reported.US Air Force Stealth aircraft reportedly intercepted the Russian formation during a patrol.This is the first time that the advanced Russian jets have escorted Russian bombers near Alaska.Officials reported that the Russian jets remained in international airspace and were unarmed.In April, Russian bombers flew, for the first time since 2014, over four consecutive days near Alaska.The Cold War-era concept of the Air Defense Zone regards an area publicly-defined beyond sovereign territory in which it is permitted to interrogate and, if necessary, intercept unidentified aircraft.These zones tend to extend into international airspace.