The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled fighter interceptors to confront two Russian bombers that flew close to Canada, NORAD reported.
This incident comes after Russia has resumed nuclear-missile submarine patrols, and sent long-range strategic bombers flying near NATO nations. Russia also has tested new types of nuclear missiles, both land- and submarine-based weapons. As well, Moscow claims its new intercontinental ballistic missiles can evade and defeat U.S. ballistic missile defense systems. And Russia has threatened to use missiles to demolish any European Missile Defense system that the United States constructs in the Czech Republic (radar) and Poland (interceptors in ground silos).
NORAD launched fighter aircraft Feb. 18 and visually identified two Russian TU-95 Bear bomber aircraft approximately 190 kilometers (118.1 miles) northeast of Tuktoyuktuk, Northwest Territories.
Interceptors included two CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada, as well as two F-15 Eagle aircraft from the Alaskan NORAD Region. Russian aircraft remained in international airspace at all times and never entered sovereign Canadian or American airspace.
All aircraft involved in the visual identification returned to base without incident.
NORAD will respond to any unidentified aircraft approaching North American airspace. Russian flights, just like any other, will be visually identified in accordance with standard procedures. NORAD carefully monitors all air activities in the North and considers all options to ensure fulfillment of our air sovereignty responsibility to Canada and the United States.
NORAD uses an identification process that is well established and proven to be very effective. If an aircraft approaches North America, NORAD will detect the object by radar. NORAD will attempt to identify the object through a variety of mechanisms including correlation with flight plans, communication and transponder interrogation. If these methods fail, NORAD may launch aircraft to visually identify the unknown object and assess its intentions.
NORAD performs aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America. Aerospace warning includes monitoring man-made objects in space, and detecting, validating and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, through mutual support arrangements with other commands.
Aerospace control includes ensuring air sovereignty and air defense of the airspace of Canada and the United States. The May 2006 NORAD Agreement renewal added a maritime warning mission, which entails a shared awareness and understanding of the activities conducted in U.S. and Canadian maritime approaches, maritime areas and inland waterways.