Latest news with #NorthAmericanAerospaceDefenseCommand


Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Tracks Russian Military Jet Near Alaska
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said it had detected and tracked a Russian military aircraft operating near Alaska on Tuesday, July 22, though it remained in international airspace. The Russian aircraft was operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), NORAD said, without specifying its type. "This Russian activity in the contiguous U.S./Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat," NORAD said in a release. "An ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security." It comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia over the war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump set a deadline for Russia to make peace or face deeper economic sanctions. He has also agreed to send more American weapons to Ukraine in response to Russia's recent intensification of its invasion. This is a developing article. Updates to follow.


Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
NORAD Fighter Jets Stage Show of Force Near Russian Border
United States and Canadian fighter jets assigned to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) recently conducted an exercise over Alaska, near the Russian border. The drill took place on July 10 near Alaska's Little Diomede Island, located in the Bering Strait between mainland Alaska and Russia's Far East. The remote island lies 2.4 miles from Russia's Big Diomede Island, which sits on the opposite side of the international date line. Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email. Formed by the U.S. and Canada, NORAD provides aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning in the defense of North America-including the detection, validation and caution of attacks against the continent whether by aircraft, missiles or space vehicles. The Russian military-along with the Chinese military-has previously sent aircraft near U.S. and Canadian sovereign airspace, within both nations' air defense identification zones. These zones cover international airspace and require the identification of aircraft. NORAD regularly conducts training to prepare for the interception of foreign military aircraft. In early March, the command's fighter jets and a U.S. bomber carried out a mock interception over Alaska, showcasing its ability to defend the continent at a moment's notice. According to photos released on July 16 by the Alaskan NORAD Region and Alaskan Command, U.S. F-16 and Canadian CF-18 fighter jets flew in formation near Little Diomede Island earlier this month during a "binational force integration" training exercise in Alaska. The Alaskan NORAD Region is one of three regions established under the binational command, alongside the Canadian NORAD Region and the Continental U.S. NORAD Region, the latter of which is divided into the Western and Eastern Air Defense Sectors. In addition to Little Diomede Island, NORAD fighter jets conducted training over Adak in the Aleutian Islands. In the summer of 2023, the U.S. military intercepted 11 Russian and Chinese naval vessels near Alaska's island chain, which extends into the Bering Sea. "Aircraft from the U.S. and Canada conducted training over Alaska demonstrating the flexibility of NORAD and the binational ability to integrate operations across regions to ensure the defense of North America in the High North," according to a photo caption. The F-16 fighter jets were launched from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, while the CF-18 fighter jets were deployed from Canadian Forces Base Bagotville in Quebec-about 4,349 miles from Alaska, according to the Royal Canadian Air Force. The exercise also involved U.S. Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and E-3 airborne warning and control system aircraft. The former extends the flight range of fighter jets, while the latter provides battle management, surveillance, target detection and tracking. The mission statement on NORAD's website said: "In close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners, prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted, and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America." The Royal Canadian Air Force said in a Facebook post on July 16: "Canadian and American forces worked shoulder-to-shoulder to integrate our forces, practice operational procedures, and demonstrate our ability to defend both countries in the Arctic through the NORAD partnership." The NORAD exercise comes as the U.S. pushes for the establishment of a Golden Dome missile defense system to protect North America. It remains to be seen whether Russia and China will conduct another joint aerial and naval operation near Alaska later this year. Related Articles Man Dies After Being Sucked Into MRI Machine by NecklaceWhat We Know About Americans Freed in Venezuela Prisoner SwapUS and NATO Ally Flex Aircraft Carrier Muscles in PacificIran's Military Leaders Threaten to Resume War 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.


Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
NORAD Fighter Jets Stage Show of Force Near Russian Border
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. United States and Canadian fighter jets assigned to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) recently conducted an exercise over Alaska, near the Russian border. The drill took place on July 10 near Alaska's Little Diomede Island, located in the Bering Strait between mainland Alaska and Russia's Far East. The remote island lies 2.4 miles from Russia's Big Diomede Island, which sits on the opposite side of the international date line. Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters Formed by the U.S. and Canada, NORAD provides aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning in the defense of North America—including the detection, validation and caution of attacks against the continent whether by aircraft, missiles or space vehicles. The Russian military—along with the Chinese military—has previously sent aircraft near U.S. and Canadian sovereign airspace, within both nations' air defense identification zones. These zones cover international airspace and require the identification of aircraft. NORAD regularly conducts training to prepare for the interception of foreign military aircraft. In early March, the command's fighter jets and a U.S. bomber carried out a mock interception over Alaska, showcasing its ability to defend the continent at a moment's notice. What To Know According to photos released on July 16 by the Alaskan NORAD Region and Alaskan Command, U.S. F-16 and Canadian CF-18 fighter jets flew in formation near Little Diomede Island earlier this month during a "binational force integration" training exercise in Alaska. North American Aerospace Defense Command CF-18 fighter jets, left, and F-16 fighter jets, right, flying in formation near Little Diomede Island, Alaska, on July 10. North American Aerospace Defense Command CF-18 fighter jets, left, and F-16 fighter jets, right, flying in formation near Little Diomede Island, Alaska, on July 10. U.S. Department of Defense The Alaskan NORAD Region is one of three regions established under the binational command, alongside the Canadian NORAD Region and the Continental U.S. NORAD Region, the latter of which is divided into the Western and Eastern Air Defense Sectors. In addition to Little Diomede Island, NORAD fighter jets conducted training over Adak in the Aleutian Islands. In the summer of 2023, the U.S. military intercepted 11 Russian and Chinese naval vessels near Alaska's island chain, which extends into the Bering Sea. "Aircraft from the U.S. and Canada conducted training over Alaska demonstrating the flexibility of NORAD and the binational ability to integrate operations across regions to ensure the defense of North America in the High North," according to a photo caption. The F-16 fighter jets were launched from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, while the CF-18 fighter jets were deployed from Canadian Forces Base Bagotville in Quebec—about 4,349 miles from Alaska, according to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Canadian and U.S. @NORADCommand aircraft are flying training missions across AK to include over Adak in the Aleutian Islands demonstrating the close integration of forces supporting the defense of North America in the High North. #ArcticSecurity | #WeHaveTheWatch | @RCAF_ARC — Alaskan NORAD Region and Alaskan Command (@ANRALCOM) July 11, 2025 The exercise also involved U.S. Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and E-3 airborne warning and control system aircraft. The former extends the flight range of fighter jets, while the latter provides battle management, surveillance, target detection and tracking. What People Are Saying The mission statement on NORAD's website said: "In close collaboration with homeland defense, security, and law enforcement partners, prevent air attacks against North America, safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to unknown, unwanted, and unauthorized air activity approaching and operating within these airspaces, and provide aerospace and maritime warning for North America." The Royal Canadian Air Force said in a Facebook post on July 16: "Canadian and American forces worked shoulder-to-shoulder to integrate our forces, practice operational procedures, and demonstrate our ability to defend both countries in the Arctic through the NORAD partnership." What Happens Next The NORAD exercise comes as the U.S. pushes for the establishment of a Golden Dome missile defense system to protect North America. It remains to be seen whether Russia and China will conduct another joint aerial and naval operation near Alaska later this year.

7 days ago
Canadian man charged with hijacking that caused security scare at Vancouver airport
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- A Canadian man has been charged with hijacking a small plane after he caused a security scare at Vancouver's airport this week. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Thursday Shaheer Cassim, 39, has been charged with hijacking, constituting terrorism, over the incident Tuesday that saw the North American Aerospace Defense Command scramble F-15 fighter jets before the plane safely landed. The RCMP said he seized control of a Cessna at Victoria International Airport on Vancouver Island by threatening a flight instructor, before flying about 40 miles (64 kilometers) to Vancouver. 'Investigators have determined the suspect acted with an ideological motive to disrupt airspace,' said Sgt. Tammy Lobb in a statement late Wednesday. A man with the same name and who resembles Cassim posted on social media that he was a 'messenger of Allah' and a 'Messiah' sent to save humanity from climate change. He said 'the Angel Gabriel appeared before me and gave me a message from Allah.' Cassim's last post warns about 'abrupt runaway global warming' that will cause humans to go extinct within a few years. Cassim also said in the post that he is 'Sam Carana,' who runs the 'Arctic News' blog that describes itself as a place where contributors 'all share a deep concern about the way climate change is unfolding in the Arctic and the threat that this poses for the world at large.' His Facebook profile says he was employed from 2008 to 2010 by now-defunct KD Air, a small airline based on Vancouver Island. The airline's former owners, Diana and Lars Banke, said in an interview Wednesday that Cassim was one of the smartest and best pilots they ever worked with, calling him a fast learner who was highly intelligent. But Lars Banke said Cassim left the airline after getting 'bored' and then went to medical school. He also said Cassim believed the world was coming to an end. Diana Banke said she was 'very surprised' to hear of Cassim's charges, saying he was quite young when he worked for them and was 'like a kid.' Lars Banke said he recalled that Cassim was somewhat interested in environmentalism, but he was unaware of any kind of religious beliefs. 'He never spoke religion with us,' Diana Banke said. 'I'm really surprised that he would've done something like this,' she added. In 2012, Cassim held a news conference before going on a cross-country bicycle ride to raise awareness for global warming. British Columbia Premier David Eby said when asked about the incident Thursday that it was a 'bizarre moment,' and the fact that it ended without a more significant disruption at the airport is a 'testament' to the skill of responders who talked the suspect down.


Cedar News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Cedar News
Fighter jets intercept plane near Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey golf club
Published on BEDMINSTER, NJ — An F-16 fighter jet intercepted a civilian aircraft on Saturday, July 5, 2025, after it violated restricted airspace over former President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed the incident, which took place at approximately 2:39 pm local time. The civilian aircraft entered a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) zone, which had been activated due to Trump's presence in the area. As part of standard security protocols, NORAD swiftly deployed an F-16 fighter jet to intercept the plane. The fighter jet executed a maneuver known as a 'headbutt' — a procedure used to alert the pilot to the restricted airspace and safely escort them out