US-Russia Interception Battle Reminiscent of the Cold War

Rising Tensions in the Arctic Facing the US and Russia
Russia Deploys Largest Forces, US Stands By with Latest F-22 Jets

US Air Force F-22 fighter jet intercepting Russian Tu-142 (NOR)

Russian Su-27 fighter jet threatening US Air Force B-52 bomber (USAFE)

[Monthly Aviation Editor-in-Chief Kim Jae-han] The Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean, and the Black Sea and Baltic Sea in Europe. Recently, the skies over these areas have been heated by interceptions between the United States and Russia. This is because military aircraft from both countries have been in a standoff in a state ready for engagement over these seas adjacent to Russia. It is truly a hair-trigger situation reminiscent of the Cold War.

▲ Frequent Interceptions Between U.S. and Russian Aircraft = Although the Cold War ended over 30 years ago, the skies adjacent to Russia are effectively still in a Cold War-like state. One of the representative areas is the Arctic Ocean and the Aleutian Islands, where the U.S. and Russia face each other. In fact, last year, Russian aircraft including the Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft, IL-38 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, Tu-95 bombers, Su-35 fighters, and A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft crossed into the Aleutian Islands and the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) more than 12 times, prompting emergency scramble responses from U.S. Air Force fighters. This was the highest number in recent years.

This year as well, on January 26, two Russian Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft violated the Alaskan ADIZ, continuing the tense standoff between the U.S. and Russia over the Arctic skies. In particular, Russia has deployed combat-capable aircraft such as the Su-35 fighters, Tu-95 bombers, A-50 airborne early warning aircraft, and IL-38 anti-submarine warfare planes, raising the level of tension.

As the tension has increased, F-22 pilots at the Elmendorf-Richardson U.S. Air Force Base in Alaska are always on standby, awaiting emergency scramble orders. When unidentified aircraft are detected by the long-range radar of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which monitors the skies over the North American continent, alarms sound immediately after various analyses, and pilots must rush to their fighters and take off at once.

Due to the frequent provocations by Russia, the number of emergency scrambles by U.S. Air Force F-22 fighters stationed in Alaska has also increased. According to the Air Force Association, the monthly average number of scrambles by the F-22 wing on alert duty at Elmendorf-Richardson Base is 523. In particular, in June last year, the number reached 810, the highest since the alert duty began.

Of course, interception missions over the Arctic skies are not only conducted by the U.S. Air Force but also by the Royal Canadian Air Force. This is because NORAD is a multinational joint air command operated jointly by the U.S. and Canadian air forces. Accordingly, the Canadian Air Force has also deployed CF-18 fighters for interception missions.

Interceptions between the U.S. and Russia are also occurring over the Black Sea adjacent to Eastern Europe. Notably, on August 28 last year, the two countries' aircraft nearly collided. According to the U.S. Air Force, on that day, B-52 bombers conducting a long-range flight through Eastern Europe as part of the NATO 'Allied Sky' mission were threatened by two Russian Su-27 fighters over international waters of the Black Sea.

Video footage from the incident shows the Su-27 fighters approaching alongside the B-52 bombers, then abruptly changing direction to cross dangerously close in front of the B-52s. The hazardous maneuvers by the Su-27s caused the photographer in the B-52 cockpit to reflexively duck. Especially, the Su-27s crossed about 30 meters in front of the B-52 at maximum thrust, generating strong turbulence that caused the B-52 to shake violently.

▲ Power Struggle Over Areas of Interest = The U.S. Air Force attributes the background of these interceptions to Russia's growing interest in the Arctic Ocean and its efforts to check European regions. David J. Meyer, Deputy Director of Operations at NORAD, recently told Air Force Magazine, "The recent interceptions are all due to increased interest in the Arctic Ocean," adding, "This interest is not only from the U.S. and Russia but also from China and all countries adjacent to the Arctic Ocean."

The interceptions occurring in European regions such as the Black Sea are interpreted as a display of presence by both countries in the area. Jeffrey L. Harrigian, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, told reporters shortly after the Russian Su-27 threatened the B-52 bomber, "Russia will continue to monitor U.S. operations over international waters of the Black Sea and frequently scramble fighters to assert their presence," explaining, "This is all competition, and (the recent B-52 long-range flight over Eastern Europe) was to demonstrate the U.S. presence in the region."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.