Three Russian Il-20 Intercepts in a Week off Alaska by NORAD

NORAD scrambled U.S. Air Force F-16s to intercept Russian Il-20 surveillance aircraft three times in the Alaskan ADIZ in less than one week.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported three separate intercepts of Russian Il-20 “Coot” surveillance aircraft operating inside the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) between Aug. 20 and Aug. 24, 2025. While such intercepts are not uncommon, the frequency of three within a five-day span has drawn attention, particularly amid heightened geopolitical tensions and major U.S.-led military exercises in the region, such as Northern Edge 2025. Contents NORAD scrambled U.S. Air Force F-16s to intercept Russian Il-20 surveillance aircraft three times in the Alaskan ADIZ in less than one week. The Alaskan ADIZ and NO