Russian jets prompt swift F‑35 response in Arctic skies
Russian military aircraft were observed over the Arctic engaging in "multiple activities," prompting a response from American and Canadian forces. Eight planes, including F-35 fighters and an AWACS early warning aircraft, were dispatched.
NORAD—the North American Aerospace Defense Command—clarified that an F-35 crash in Alaska on the same day was unrelated to this operation.
A total of eight aircraft were dispatched
According to NORAD, American F-35s and Canadian CF-18s conducted air patrols at the start of the week due to Russian activities in the Arctic. Eight aircraft were dispatched, but no detailed information was provided about the type of Russian planes or the nature of their activities.
The Canadian sector patrol of NORAD headed to northern areas of Canada. At the same time, the American formation moved toward the coasts of Alaska and the Yukon to monitor Russian aircraft movements more closely. The Canadian patrol included two CF-18s and a KC-135 tanker, while the American patrol consisted of two F-35s, one E-3 AWACS, and two KC-135 tankers.
A few hours after these units took off, NORAD deployed two F-16s from Alaska to Greenland, following a standard agreement regarding military presence in the Arctic.
An official statement emphasized 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 were operating in international airspace.
F-35 crash in Alaska on the same day
The patrols took place on January 27, the same day an F-35 fighter crashed at Eielson Base in Alaska. The pilot successfully ejected and has already been discharged from a military hospital. NORAD noted that this incident was not connected to the Arctic operation.
The U.S. has long warned Russia and China against actions in the Arctic region that could threaten American territory and resources. Meanwhile, Russia is increasing its presence there, including testing hypersonic missiles. The Russian submarine Arkhangelsk was recently sent to the Northern Fleet base in the Arctic.
