Cockpit video footage of the incident released by NORAD appears to shows the F-16 trailing the Tu-95 off the bomber’s right wing, matching course and speed. The twin-engined Su-35, bearing the iconic blue-and-grey camouflage of Russia’s tactical aviation forces, suddenly blasts into frame from the F-16’s left side, cutting hard across the American craft’s nose.
The Russian Flanker manoeuvres aggressively, holding a nearly 90 degree banking turn, with its cockpit and vertical stabilisers oriented toward the F-16, before leveling off ahead of the Viper.
The American pilot can be heard uttering an indecipherable expletive, quickly pulling away and to the right when the Su-35 appears.
No injuries or equipment damage have been reported from the incident.
While this particular incident is noteworthy for the aggressive tactics on display, such intercepts have become all too common.
In 2021, the then senior military officer in Alaska – Lieutenant General David Krum – described the Russian presence around the USA’s northernmost territory as “the highest activity we’ve had since the fall of the Soviet Union”, while speaking at an Air &Space Forces Association event. Krum has since retired.
More recently, a joint sortie of Russian and Chinese bombers were intercepted off the coast of Alaska in July – thought to be the first time military aircraft from the two countries had been encountered operating together so close to US territory.
Following intercepts, US officials are typically quick to note the ADIZ begins “where sovereign airspace ends” and is officially international territory.
Other countries employ such identification zones outside of their sovereign airspace, including major players in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. The practice is not specifically governed by an international agreement.
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Publish date : 2024-09-30 12:26:00
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