Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers, for the second time in as many days, flew close to the Alaska shore prompting an Air Force response. The bombers, which were spotted about 41 miles off the coast of Alaska on Tuesday, prompted an Air Force E-3 Sentry to scramble and track the bombers, CNN reported. The provocation comes one day after Bear bombers flew near Alaska, and two F-22s scrambled in response. The F-22s intercepted the bombers in a “safe and professional” manner, the Pentagon said.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.