Russian Tu-95MS Bombers Conduct 14 Hour Strategic Deterrence Flight Near Alaska: F-16s Scrambled to Intercept

The Russian Aerospace Forces has deployed Tu-95MS strategic bombers for operations in the Bering Sea and the Okhotsk Sea, which included extended flights near Alaska. The Russian Defence Ministry reported regarding the operations: “The Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers of long-range aviation of Russia’s Aerospace Forces performed a scheduled flight in the airspace over neutral waters of the Bering and Okhotsk Seas. The flight lasted over 14 hours.” “During the flight, the crews of the Russian long-range aircraft conducted mid-air refuelling,” the ministry further noting, adding that: “At some stages of the flight, the Russian strategic missile-carrying bombers were escorted by fighter jets of foreign states.” The bombers were supported by Su-35S and Su-30SM fighters based in the Russian Far East, which have particularly long ranges making them well suited to conducting escort missions for extended periods.

During the operations the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported that two Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, with an E-3 early warning and control aircraft and four F-16 fighters scrambled to intent them in response. Due to the particularly short range of the F-16, four KC-135 tanker aircraft were deployed to support their operation, providing aerial refuelling to allow the fighters to remain in the air longer. F-16s and F-35s based in Alaska have had multiple encounters with Russian bombers and Su-35 fighters, with footage released on April 4 showing an F-35 closely encroaching on a Su-35 successfully positioning itself forward and to the right of it. Previously in September 2024 a Su-35 fighter made a threatening approach to a U.S. Air Force F-16 near Alaska, cutting in front of and across the American aircraft’s path at very close range, in what was referred to by some sources as a ‘headbutting’ manoeuvre.

Each Tu-95MS bomber can carry eight Kh-101 radar evading cruise missiles, or the missile’s nuclear armed variant the Kh-102, on its external pylons, with the missiles having very long ranges of over 5000 kilometres, integrating decoys, and carrying 400 kilogram warheads. The Kh-101 has been used extensively against Ukrainian targets, with its range allowing bombers to strike targets across much of the United States from international waters. Not only are more capable missile classes under development for Russian bombers, but much of the Tu-95MS fleet is expected to be replaced by Tu-160M strategic bombers currently in production. Moreover, Russian bomber patrols near Alaska have gained growing support from Chinese aviation assets, including H-6 bombers and J-16 fighters, which were first deployed for operations in the area in July 2024. Facing these growing challenges, Alaskan airspace has itself been left increasingly vulnerable due in large part to the fast growing obsolescence of the E-3 fleet, particularly as the availability of funding for a successor, the E-7, remains highly uncertain.