US fighter jets escort Russian planes over Alaska

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has stated that the United States tracked six Russian warplanes overflying Alaska's air defence identification zone on May 11.

The Russian planes were escorted by F-16 and F-22 fighter jets, an E-3 AWACS long-range radar detection and control aircraft and a KC-135 Stratotanker refueller, according to NORAD’s Twitter page.

The Russian aircraft were TU-95 bombers, IL-78 tankers, and SU-35 fighter jets.

NORAD uses a multi-layered defence network of satellites, ground radar, airborne radar and fighter aircraft to track and identify aircraft and inform appropriate action.