According to a statement released by NORAD to Air & Space Forces Magazine, the Il-20 flew inside the ADIZ for approximately one hour and 12 minutes at a distance of around 25 nautical miles from Alaska’s St. Lawrence Island, located south of the Bering Strait and less than 50 miles from Russian territory. As mentioned in the opening, the flights also occurred days after a summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the leaders discussed the war in Ukraine. The importance of this aspect can be also seen by the redesignation of the 18th Aggressor Squadron as 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, with the F-16s now taking a bigger role in the air defense of Alaska.
Author: Stefano D'Urso
Published at: 2025-08-25 21:58:30
Still want to read the full version? Full article
