A Russian Ilyushin Il-2-20 electronic surveillance plane entered an Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (North America) North American Aerospace Defense Command Sunday, CBS and other foreign media reported Sunday, the command scrambled fighter jets to intercept.
Ilyushin Il-2-20 Image Credit: Tars
The North n Aerospace Defense Command said in a statement that on Sunday it had deployed an E-3 AWACS, two F-16s and two KC-135 tankers, the Russian electronic reconnaissance aircraft to implement the“Intercept and visual identification.”. The statement also said that the Russian reconnaissance aircraft has always been in international airspace, did not enter the United States or Canadian sovereign airspace.
“Russian Air Defense Identification Zone (North ) of this type occur from time to time and are not considered a threat,” the statement said.
CBS said it was the third time in less than a week that a Russian spy plane had been spotted entering an Alaskan “Air Defense Identification Zone (North )”. As of press time, the Russian side has not responded to this.