Russian military aircraft spotted off Alaska coast for fourth time since 9/11

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, said it had detected Russian military aircraft off the coast of Alaska on Sunday, the fourth time since 9/11 that such a move has occurred as tensions between the U.S. and Russia rise.

Two Russian IL-38 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) were detected and tracked Sunday, NORAD said in a press release.

According to NORAD, the aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. Also, this Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ is said to be a regular occurrence and not considered a threat.

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On Sunday, two Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone were detected and tracked, the fourth time in the past week. (Getty Images)

In the other three incidents over the past week — on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday — the planes also remained in international airspace in Alaska’s ADIZ and were not considered a threat, NORAD said.

The US and Canada, which together form NORAD, became the first to intercept two Russian military aircraft on Wednesday.

On Friday, two TU-142s were detected by NORAD. And on Saturday, two Russian IL-38 aircraft were intercepted, the same type of aircraft that was intercepted on Sunday.

In all four incidents, the aircraft were still in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. (Getty Images)

According to NORAD, an ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a designated area of ​​international airspace for which direct identification of all aircraft is required in the interest of national security.

NORAD said it uses a layered defense network of satellites, ground and airborne radars, and fighter jets to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions. The company said it is prepared to use a number of response options to defend North America.

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According to NORAD, the planes were not considered a threat in any of the four incidents. (Getty Images)

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Earlier this summer, NORAD intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska, the first time the two countries had been intercepted while operating together, U.S. officials said at the time.