For the first time, Chinese and Russian strategic bombers entered the U.S. Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) simultaneously, coming within approximately 200 miles of sovereign U.S. airspace.
This unprecedented joint patrol was conducted on July 25, 2024, and marked a notable escalation in air operations near U.S. territory.
Analyst Ian Ellis noted on X that the bombers, which took off from the same Russian air base, flew together over the Bering Sea. This mission marked the first instance of Chinese H-6 strategic bombers encroaching on the area, flying the farthest distance during a strategic patrol mission to date. It was the eighth joint patrol since 2019, with previous operations occurring over the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, and Western Pacific.
The bombers were intercepted by a combination of U.S. and Canadian fighter aircraft. The U.S. deployed two F-35 Lightning II and two F-16 Fighting Falcons, while Canada dispatched two CF-18 Hornets. At various points during the patrol, the bombers were escorted by Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S fighter aircraft.
The patrol lasted approximately five hours and covered the Chukchi Sea, Bering Sea, and the northern Pacific Ocean. This operation represents a significant development in Sino-Russian military cooperation and raises concerns about the implications for regional security.
“This is the first time that we have seen these two countries fly together like that,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said during a Pentagon press briefing. “If it happens again — if there is any kind of challenge from any direction — I have every confidence that NORTHCOM and NORAD will be at the ready.”
.@NORADCommand employed a layered defense network of fighter aircraft, satellites, and ground-based and airborne radars in seamless interoperability to detect, track, and intercept two Russian TU-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska ADIZ on July 24, 2024. pic.twitter.com/YvG1cu31Ni
— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) July 25, 2024
The joint patrol underscores the growing strategic partnership between China and Russia and their increasing willingness to challenge U.S. and allied air defenses. The presence of strategic bombers so close to U.S. airspace is a stark reminder of the evolving global security landscape and the need for constant vigilance.
The U.S. Alaskan ADIZ serves as a buffer zone to identify and monitor approaching aircraft before they enter national airspace. Incursions into this zone are taken seriously by the U.S. military, as they pose potential threats to national security.