U.S. fighter jets scrambled Wednesday to intercept four Russian warplanes—two Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters—flying near Alaska in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), NORAD said.

The response included an E-3 early warning aircraft, four F-16s, and four KC-135 tankers to identify and monitor the Russian planes.

While Russian activity in the ADIZ is not considered a direct threat, these flights are seen as testing U.S. and NATO readiness, following recent incursions in Europe, including Russian drones near Copenhagen and airspace violations in Poland and Estonia.

Similar Russian flights near Alaska have prompted NORAD interceptions in recent weeks, including a dangerous close encounter in September 2024, CBS News has reported.

The ADIZ requires aircraft identification for national security, but none of the Russian planes have entered U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace.