The planes were flying in international airspace, the US Department of Defense said. The report does not detail how close the Russian planes flew to the United States, the author writes, nor does it specify either the model of these aircraft or the American ones that were alerted.
Five Russian planes flew too close to Alaska without violating the airspace of either the United States or Canada, according to the US military. The incident occurred against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Moscow and NATO. Earlier, Russian warplanes escorted American bombers over the Black Sea.
As reported by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Russian aircraft were detected on approach to the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) at 17:53 on Thursday.
The Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone stretches along the coasts of the United States and Canada and is controlled by civilian air traffic control authorities and the armed forces of both countries under the auspices of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
The planes were flying in international airspace and left the air defense identification zone at 19:21, according to the Visual Information Dissemination Service of the US Department of Defense (DVIDS).
The statement does not specify how close the Russian planes flew to the United States - whose nearest point is only three kilometers from Russia.
Also, neither the model of the Russian planes nor the American ones that were alerted is specified.
The Visual Information Dissemination Service said that the North American Aerospace Defense Command "tracks and identifies aircraft and reports on appropriate response measures" with the help of a protective network of satellites, ground and airborne radars and fighter jets.
"We remain ready for a number of response options to protect North America and the sovereignty of the Arctic," the statement said.
The commander of the NORAD regional unit in Alaska, Air Force Lieutenant General David Krumm, said that the US military will "vigilantly carry out tasks to prevent and control space activities in North America."
He added that measures will be taken to "prevent strategic rivals from threatening the common interests of the United States, as well as our allies and partners."
Newsweek magazine has requested a comment from the Russian Ministry of Defense and the NORAD branch in Alaska.
Two days earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said that two Russian Su-30 fighter jets escorted two American B-1B bombers and two KC-135 tanker aircraft over the "neutral waters of the Black Sea."
Moscow said it took its fighter jets into the air on Tuesday to identify aerial targets and prevent violations of Russia's state border.
"The flight of the Russian fighters was carried out in strict accordance with the international rules for the use of airspace. Violations of the state border of Russia have not been allowed," the Russian Defense Ministry said, using the standard wording for such incidents.
Russia has accused NATO of encroaching on its borders amid a surge in tensions between the two countries. On Monday, Moscow announced that it would close its permanent mission to NATO in response to the expulsion of eight Russian diplomats.
In addition, Russia has disputed the comments made by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin this week in Ukraine. Austin said that Washington supports Kiev's intention to join NATO. Kiev sees the alliance as a buffer against Russian aggression.
Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Rudenko called Ukraine's accession to NATO "an extremely dangerous step that will force Russia to take appropriate measures."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba retorted: "We are not interested in Russia's opinion about Ukraine's membership in NATO."
Brendan Cole
