Multiple U.S. military aircraft were scrambled to intercept five Russian planes, including two Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets, and an A-50 reconnaissance aircraft, that entered the U.S. Air Defense Identification Zone off the coast of Alaska. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) reported that the Russian aircraft were escorted out of the zone and did not penetrate Canadian or American airspace. The incident involved U.S. F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, KC-135 tankers, and an E-3 Awacs aircraft. Norad stated that such encounters with Russian aircraft are regular occurrences and are not perceived as a threat, with military experts suggesting these actions are often used to test a nation's defenses. The Air Defense Identification Zone is a buffer area requiring all aircraft to identify themselves for national security purposes.