Russian military manoeuvres in the Arctic prompt NORAD response
Russian military aircraft were sighted over the Arctic, where American and Canadian forces observed their "multiple activities." In response, eight aircraft, including F-35 fighters and an AWACS early warning aircraft, were dispatched.
NORAD – the North American Aerospace Defense Command – noted that although an F-35 crash occurred in Alaska on the same day, it was unrelated to this operation.
A total of eight aircraft were sent
According to NORAD information, American F-35s and Canadian CF-18s conducted air patrols at the beginning of the week in response to Russian activities in the Arctic. Eight aircraft were sent, but no detailed information was provided about the type of Russian aircraft or the nature of their activities.
The Canadian NORAD sector patrol headed for the northern areas of Canada. At the same time, the American formation moved towards the coasts of Alaska and Yukon to monitor Russian aircraft movements more closely. The Canadian patrol included two CF-18s and a KC-135 refuelling aircraft, while the American patrol consisted of two F-35s, an E-3 AWACS, and two KC-135 tankers.
A few hours after these units departed, NORAD dispatched two F-16s from Alaska to Greenland, following a standard agreement regarding military presence in the Arctic.
The official statement emphasised that these actions did not respond to any specific threat. It was not disclosed where exactly the fighters were deployed in Greenland. However, the northernmost American base in the area remains Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), a strategic location from the Cold War era.
In January 2023, four F-35s were deployed in Greenland. Russian aircraft operated in international airspace.
The F-35 crash in Alaska on the same day
The patrols took place on 28 January, and on the same day, an F-35 fighter crashed at Eielson base in Alaska. The pilot ejected and has already been discharged from a military hospital. NORAD noted that this incident was not related to the operation carried out in the Arctic.
The USA has been warning Russia and China for some time about their actions in the Arctic, which could threaten American territory and its resources. Meanwhile, Russia is increasing its presence there by, among other things, testing hypersonic missiles. A few days ago, the Russian submarine Arkhangelsk was sent to the Northern Fleet base in the Arctic.
