NORAD says U.S. fighter jets intercepted a Russian IL-20 COOT spy plane off Alaska four times in a week, most recently on Tuesday.
The Cold War-era reconnaissance aircraft entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, an area of international airspace where planes are required to identify themselves. Earlier incursions were recorded on Aug. 20, 21, and 24.
“NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars and fighter aircraft to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions,” the military command said in a statement. “NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America.”
The statement explained that an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is international airspace beyond a nation’s borders where all aircraft must identify themselves for national security purposes.
According to U.S. officials, “The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.”
PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked one IL-20 COOT operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Aug. 26, 2025.
NORAD responded with an E-3, two F-16s, and one KC-135 tanker to… pic.twitter.com/8k1S1bqD1w— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) August 27, 2025
