US F-22 fighter jets intercept Russian bombers near Alaska

This marks the second time this month a pair of Russian bombers have flown close to Alaska.

Two U.S. F-22 "Raptor" fighter jets intercepted two Russian TU-95 "Bear" bombers on Tuesday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said.

"The homeland is no longer a sanctuary and the ability to deter and defeat threats to our citizens, vital infrastructure, and national institutions starts with successfully detecting, tracking, and positively identifying aircraft of interest approaching United States and Canadian airspace", Gen. Terrence J.

The bombers entered the US air defense identification zone near mainland Alaska Tuesday around 10:00 pm eastern time, and were accompanied by two Su-35 Flanker fighter jets, the command said in a statement.

Terrance O'Shaughnessy says radar, satellites and fighter jets are used to identify aircraft and determine appropriate responses.

The Russian aircraft did not enter USA or Canadian air space.

The U.S. Air Force says two of its fighter jets have intercepted and monitored Russian bombers in worldwide air space west of mainland Alaska. The last interception came on September 1 near the Aleutian Islands. The Russian planes did not enter sovereign USA airspace on either of the previous two occasions.

The bombers were flying north of the Aleutian Islands, and west of Alaska's mainland, in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, said Maj.

The Russian military recently launched its largest military drill since 1981.

The drills involve almost 300,000 Russian troops along with 1,000 Russian aircraft, 36,000 tanks and other combat vehicles, the news agency said.