Russian and Chinese Bombers Conduct Joint Patrol Near Alaska for the First Time

On July 24, American and Canadian fighter aircraft intercepted a joint patrol of Russian Tu-95 and Chinese H-6 long-range strategic bombers that crossed into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), marking the first time Chinese aircraft have been detected in the airspace..The Incident.The incident was first announced by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which released a statement reporting that it had "detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian Tu-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on July 24, 2024."."The Russian and PRC aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian and PRC activity in the Alaska ADIZ is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence," the statement added..NORAD also clarified that "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.".Photos released by NORAD showed that American F-16 and F-35 fighters, along with a Canadian CF-18, intercepted the bombers..US Reaction.While speaking to reporters, United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin noted that the patrol was "the first time that we've seen these two countries fly together like that," adding that the bombers came within 200 miles of the Alaskan coast..Austin also mentioned that the bombers had been tracked for the majority of their flight, adding, "They're always testing us and that's no surprise to any of us.".Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan posted on X, saying "Alaska continues to be on the frontlines of the authoritarian aggression by the dictators in Russia and China who are increasingly working together. Make no mistake, this is an escalation—the first time Russia and China have sent a joint bomber task force into the Alaska ADIZ.".He continued by saying that "The Arctic is a critical area of strategic competition between the US, Russia, and China. As I have been warning our Pentagon leaders for years, these kinds of joint Russia and China incursions on the sea and in the air near Alaska will continue. For that reason, the United States needs to continue to build up our military forces and the infrastructure that goes with it in Alaska to protect our nation's vital interests in the Arctic and the INDOPACOM theater.".Russian/Chinese Reaction.A statement released by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which was jointly shared by the Russian state media outlet TASS, said that the "Russian and Chinese crews practiced cooperation while carrying out an air patrol mission in a new area. The Su-30SM and Su-35S aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces provided fighter cover."."Foreign fighter jets escorted the air group at certain stages of the route. While performing the mission, both countries' aircraft acted in strict compliance with international law. There were no violations of other countries' airspace," the statement added..Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang remarked that the patrol was "not directed at any third party, complies with international law and practices, and is unrelated to the current international and regional situation" and marked a continuation of bomber patrols since 2019. This was echoed by a statement released by the Russian Ministry of Defense..Implications.Up until yesterday, joint bomber patrols between Russia and China have been limited to areas around the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, and Philippine Sea..The last joint patrol was carried out on December 1, 2023, which consisted of flights over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the patrol involved H-6s and Tu-95s, which were escorted by Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S multi-role fighters. Likewise, Chinese Y-20 tankers and J-16 fighter jets also participated. These patrols prompted South Korea and Japan to scramble fighter jets as the aircraft crossed into both countries' ADIZs..What made the exercises particularly noteworthy was that it was the first time Russian and Chinese bombers landed at each other's airfields. Footage showed Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers taking off from what was likely the Hangzhou Airbase in Zhejiang, China. It remains unclear which Russian airbase the H-6 bombers landed at..Russian flight operations off the coast of Alaska are quite common and are not seen as a threat. As stated, this latest patrol marks the first time Russian and Chinese bombers have operated in the area, which can be seen as a show of force towards the United States.