What has Happened:

• Last evening, two Russian TU-95 Bear and two Chinese H-6 bombers flew into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in international airspace near the Alaskan coast.
• These warplanes were intercepted by U.S. and Canadian fighters and marked the first time ever that strategic bombers from both Russia and China operated together near North America.
• The Russian and Chinese bombers all took off from a Russian air base and this incident is seen as another example of security cooperation between the two countries.
• However, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in its statement that the Russian and Chinese planes didn’t enter U.S. or Canadian airspace and were not seen as a military threat.
• NORAD has previously reported that Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska ADIZ “occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” but noted this was the first time Chinese H-6s have flown in the vicinity of Alaska.
• Last summer, multiple Russian and Chinese warships conducted exercises around the Aleutian Islands, but never entered the territorial waters of the U.S.
• In our Around the World geopolitical report released yesterday, our GIG highlighted the growing partnership that Russia has built with nations including China, and the fact that this relationship in particular was identified as a concern at the recent NATO Summit.

Why it Matters:

“It is certainly a concerning picture seeing them coordinating such a move, but we should keep in mind the immense difference and complication between flying together and fighting together. The fact that they were together demonstrates a potential new level of coordination, but it also demonstrates an amateurish approach to fly such patrols. I would suggest that such a maneuver incurred significantly increased risk for both Russia & China. Troubling, but not necessarily an increased threat.” – General Mastin Robeson

“Worth looking at the U.S. and South Korean Air Force drills that are ongoing for the next three weeks. That may be relevant to the timing. As far as the incursion, both sides will monitor communications and see what they can learn from each other regarding reactions to this ADIZ violation. Both sides are flexing their capabilities as we all do.” – General Robert Ashley

“Regarding both Chinese and Russian bombers working together, yes that is a big deal. It confirms that both the PRC and Russia are working together in a coordinated fashion to put pressure on the U.S.” – General David Deptula

“The coordinated Russian and Chinese bombers entering the U.S. Air Defense Identification Zone near Alaska is another signal that the two countries are working together to challenge and diminish U.S. influence and leadership across the globe. Russian aircraft periodically conduct similar operations. This is however a first by China, and it happened in coordination with Russia sending a clear signal of their ‘no limits partnership’ and their intent to test U.S. military strength. The U.S. and Canada intercepted the bombers per their North American Aerospace Defense Command mission. The Chinese and Russian coordination is ongoing with their naval forces near Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. There should be no doubt that China and Russia are working together to challenge U.S. leadership and develop a bloc of supporting countries as an alternative to the U.S.-led international order that has existed since the fall of the Soviet Union.” – General Robert Walsh

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