Russia Conducts Nuclear-Capable Bomber Flight Near Alaska

Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that its air force conducted a scheduled flight of two nuclear-capable Tu-95MS bombers over neutral waters near Alaska. The U.S. military stated that the bombers were not considered a threat.

The Tu-95MS bombers were escorted by a Su-35S and a Su-30SM fighter jet during the 15-hour flight, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, The Caspian Post reports.

A video released by the military showed the aircraft taking off at night, refueling mid-flight during the day, and landing at an undisclosed airfield at night.

The Russian military emphasized that long-range aviation pilots frequently fly over neutral waters in the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black and Baltic Seas, and the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. military said it detected and tracked the four Russian warplanes in international airspace on Tuesday. The aircraft did not enter American or Canadian airspace, it added.

“This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ [Air Defense Identification Zone] occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in a statement.