NORAD Tracks and Identifies Two Russian Tu-142 Aircraft Entering Alaskan ADIZ
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) positively identified and tracked two Tu-142 Russian maritime patrol aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) at 2:56 p.m. (AKST), Jan. 25.
NORAD said in a statement that the Russian aircraft were operating in international airspace but have not entered United States or Canadian sovereign airspace.
At approx. 7pm EST, Alaskan NORAD Region positively identified and tracked two Tu-142 Russian maritime patrol aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone.
The aircraft remained in int'l airspace and did not enter
or sovereign airspace #WeHaveTheWatch — North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) January 26, 2021
NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based radars, airborne radar and fighter aircraft to track and identify aircraft and determine the appropriate response.
“This deliberate identification and monitoring of aircraft entering a U.S. or Canadian ADIZ demonstrates how NORAD executes its continuous aerospace warning and aerospace control missions for the United States and Canada”, said the NORAD statement.
“Despite COVID-19, NORAD has taken deliberate measures and remains fully capable of conducting our aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning missions,” the statement added.