In a heart-stopping video released by U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Russian fighter jet recklessly came just a few feet away from an American Air Force jet patrolling Alaska’s coastal defense zone on Sept. 23.
“The reckless and unprofessional maneuvers of Russian fighter aircraft—within just a few feet of our Alaska-based fighters—in Alaska’s ADIZ on September 23 put the lives of our brave Airmen at risk and underscore the escalating aggression we’re witnessing from dictators like Vladimir Putin,” Sullivan noted on social media. The video demonstrates that the act was an intentional provocation.
“These tactics stand in stark contrast to the skill and discipline of our Alaska-based service members who are on the front lines at all hours in defense of our entire country. I want to commend our Airmen for consistently and professionally executing these complex intercept missions. We need to answer force with force and continue building up America’s military presence in Alaska and the Arctic with more infrastructure, like the strategic Arctic port at Nome and reopening the Adak Naval Base, and more military assets,” Sullivan said.
The video was also provided by NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
“The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d see in a professional air force,” Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of the United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, said in a statement.
NORAD deployed jets to fly a “safe and disciplined intercept” of the Russian aircraft in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, an area beyond U.S. sovereign air space, but where pilots are expected to identify their aircraft.
The video was released a week after NORAD said four Russian military planes were detected and tracked off the coast of Alaska. About 130 U.S. soldiers and a mobile rocket launcher were deployed to Shemya, a remote Alaska island, as an increase in Russian military activity off the coast has caught the attention of the Pentagon.
Eight Russian military planes and four Russian Navy ships, including submarines, have spent the month patrolling close to Alaska during joint Russia-China military drills. None of the jets came into actual U.S. airspace but have been detected several times before this Sept. 23 incident — Sept. 11, 13, 14, and 15.
More reckless than equipping and training NATO countries to use American satellites and missiles against Russia?
David, NATO’s primary goal is to protect the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. Article 5 of the Washington Treaty states that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
The US is a member of NATO. That means WE get help when/if needed, and due to the many nations that are members, an attack is less likely. (Deterrence.)
And before you embarass yourself as a lap dog for Putin. Recall Putin is a state sponsor of terror.
M, I hasten to remind you that Ukraine is NOT a NATO member.
BTW, State Sponsor of terror, you mean like Iran? Cuz Winkin Blinkin and Kerry and Bidumb have been pretty generous with that Mega Corporate sponsor of terror.
And before you use your childish logic of accusing me of being a Putin lap dog, ask how it was that Putin decided to invade Ukraine? Was he fearful of Biden or NATO? No? Didn’t think so.
Oosik. we see your name is appropriate. Your logic is to allow Ukraine to be overwhelmed by the Russians… then the next European country and then the next?? Until we have no choice except to send our troops to fight? Better the Ukraine’s do it for us at the moment..
Puk, I never said Ukraine was a member of NATO. If you have good reading comprehension you’ll see I was explaining how NATO works.
And yes, Iran is a state sponsor of terror, like Russia. And your point is?
Puk, at least you recognize that Russia did invade Ukraine. Now Russia is getting its ass kicked. Deservedly. 120,000 dead Russians. Putin is a war criminal. Not just my opinion, but that of the ICC, who has issued arrest warrants against Putin. And if you are excusing Putin’s conduct, then you are a sad little person.
“The US is a member of NATO. That means WE get help when/if needed…”
I doubt it. Nobody, including us, has any ammo left due to Ukraine war, and I don’t see any NATO member doing anything for us other than writing a strongly worded letter.
Maybe you missed out on most of the history of the latter part of the 20th century, John. Our NATO allies do a lot for us. They buy, literally, tens of billions of dollars worth of arms from the USA. They work side by side with us during exercises, and deployments. They allow the USA to have dozens of bases throughout NATO. They share intelligence with us on a daily basis.
Lots of ammo around John. Just look at the amount Israel is deploying against Hezbollah. And Hamas. Lots of nasty terrorist taking a dirt nap right now, with ammo we’ve provided. Lots of dead Russins too.
You can’t be serious. Nato helping us?!?! That is a joke. Nato countries sent a token amount of forces to help us in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since when did Ukraine become such an ally? I don’t remember seeing them in OEF/OIF.
This is all such a farce. Nato needs to be dissolved along with the UN.
Sorry Tim, but NATO is growing stronger with two great, new members. Finland and Sweden. Those arctic nations will being with them the cold weather expertise we’ve developed in Alaska.
Gotta pick a side Tim. You want to side with the crook, despot, and state sponsor of terror, Putin? Really?
M- Learn some rudimentary geopolitics before attempting to weigh in on important matters. The Obama/Biden administration started arming the fascists in Ukraine since at least 2014 in the hopes of provoking a war with Russia. Ukraine wasn’t a NATO member then, and it still isn’t now, one of the reasons being is that it is one of the most corrupt countries in the world! Stop being a lapdog for dirtbag neocons such as Obama, Biden, Clinton, Romney, Pelosi, Schumer et al who are up to their elbows in the money laundering operation that is going on in Ukraine.
Fishing, wow, such emotion, and so little substance.
The fact is Russia invaded Ukraine. Now Russia is way worse off, thankfully, as their despotic ruler, Putin, has warrants out for his arrest, for war crimes.
Here’s how your hero, Putin, has hurt Russia:
1. Weaker economy, with the ruble tanking.
2. Sanctions galore. Lost trade, and opportunities.
3. 120,000 dead Russians.
4. 180,000 wounded Russians.
5. Boats of the Russian navy, now on ‘submarine’ duty. HAHAHA.
6. Russian oligarchs with billions in their ill gotten assets, frozen.
7. NATO, stronger, with two new members.
8. Russian people, dispirited, again.
Winning. Right? No? Oh, so sorry. Go ahead and side with a state sponsor of terror.
Spot on.
That plane load of Obama money sponsored terror. No?
Ah comrade, we see you are back on the payroll.
Actually it’s more involved than that. The US provides all targeting data, and US servicemen operated the Patriot systems (maybe there is 1 left) and operate the systems for firing both US and UK missiles into Russia from Ukraine. Even the UK uses American weapon system operators, but not the French.
It is questionable that Ukrainian pilots flew the known six, F-16s sent, of which 5 are destroyed already.
US and NATO officers plan operations, and a large number have been killed by missile strikes on their underground bunkers.
Our State Department overthrew the elected government in 2014, and Boris Johnson intervened to block a very viable peace deal, before the shooting war commenced.
That said, the Kiev regime, shelled and attacked fellow Ukrainians, a civil war raged for 8 years in the Donbass region, before the Russian Federation intervened.
All this to protect the natural gas rights that Burisma owned, with Hunter Biden on the board, for personal gain of the Biden Family. Those gas fields are no longer on territory the Kiev regime controls.
Had we used the money and resources sent to Ukraine on border security to turn away the UN supported flood of illegal aliens that has freely flowed into this country, consider how much more safe we would actually be. Why is Ukraine’s border so much more important than domestic borders and domestic security?
Apples and oranges, smitty
That looked more like a Mig-29 fighter. The US pilot was taken fully by surprise, as the reaction clearly shows. Another reckless Russian playing the bandit for a free bottle of vodka from his commander.
wrong.
I’m sure the US pilot was aware of the Mig’s approach. What you saw was the US plane being buffeted by wake turbulence …
I think the F-16 has blind spots on rear FoF ID. That’s why they use AWACS and multiple fighters for observation. But WTF do I know. I’m only a 37 jock.
Reckless and unprofessional. What are you talking about . ??? These are hostile forces. I would not expect anything else.
It bothers me that you are surprised after all they are in FIGHTER JETs those fighters have but 1 purpose.
Those unconventional flying machines are like a hummingbird going after a bird of prey. Wait till we bring out the good stuff.
Doug, havnig done my bit with the USAF, those fighters have far more than one purpose. They are superior intelligence gathering and communications platforms.
And yes, the Russians are war criminals. They kill children. Regularly. Reckless and unprofessional is a good description. We’ve had long standing hand shake agreements about how to try and engage each other. Letting some punk pilot from Russia trigger something is not in our best interest.
Who said it was in your best interest…?? The intelligence they are gathering is to kill us with. So basically they have 1 purpose.
Just curious. why didn’t that show up on radar? How was it a surprise? Lack of situational awareness?
Of course they were on our radar. We knew long before that they were there, and closing. In these situations we just keep flying the mission. We weren’t trying to be covert.
The Russian flew right up,his tail pipe if this video is real.
War mongering for Israel and Ukraine is really paying off. Just what we need, more displaced Muslims flooding western nations. Awesome plan from the uniparty.
Sullivan publishing that on social media? Trying to drum up the fear in people? I am not saying that it did not happen; but, what would be Sullivan’s goal if he is posting this on social media? Are not he and Lindsey Graham the ones that love a good war?
Lucas, money was never the issue with Biden regarding our borders. He had the money, he WANTED this invasion.
Russia is not Low T & LBTGXYZ like the Feminized USAF. I remember when America had High T Cahones! Sadly, no longer the case.
Put himself in a nice position for a missle up the tailpipe.
Eric, I think of the ‘stand your ground’ laws. Our guy showed real restraint by not releasing a burst of 20- 30 MM rounds.
“Stand your ground”? What do you think this is, some Florida sidewalk?
Eric, of course not. But putting a missile up his stovepipe as you suggest, from that distance, would result, at a minimum, of damage to our fighter.
This is why faint of heart, extreme right wingers need to think twice about retreating from Ukraine and gather up some American can do spirit, stand with our Allies and quit advertising themselves as Republicans.
Just because Ukraine showered the Biden criminals with cash does not mean they are America’s Allies.
It just makes them out to be a bunch of reckless panhandlers who are being gifted now that Joe is head honcho and Hunter couldnt handle his past life of drugs and prostitution without spilling the beans on his laptop for fifty of America’s top security officials to swear it was all Russian disinformation.
Nobody has to be “extreme right wingers” to be weary of Ukraine’s motive for cashing out the Biden crime family….just a slight amount of research other than the lame stream media sheepherding.
Nothing stops you from going and putting your body where your mouth is.
Lead by example, lead the way.
If you knew my history, you would not have typed that.
the EU needs to get their ass to Ukraine and help them stand their ground. Meanwhile Ukraines nearest neighbors keep,their head and their money buried in the sand. Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, chec republic where are these people’s military’s .?? The Russian s will be marching their way shortly. And yes our main stream media sucks. The day of reckoning for them is near. Putin has from 6000 to 9000 nuclear weapons. Let’s pray he doesn’t turn 1 loose. It only takes 1 .
President Donald J Trump would put a stop to this immediately.
Strange, when I watched “Top Gun”, it seemed that any aircraft in the immediate area was viewed and tracked with onboard radar. Not to take away the immediate threat the pilot(s) felt. I will hold back on thoughts of Sen. Sullivan’s apparent desire to face off with such threats. All well and good, but until the mentality is that of Israel in not fighting on “Feelings” but accomplish the destruction of the enemy, we are wasting our wonderful youth in self serving, not National needs.
Patton said it best: “We need to break things and kill people” Or something close to this.
Cheers,
You’re right Al. No one in their right mind would let an enemy fighter get that close. Especially right now.
Not nearly as reckless as perpetuating the brutal war in Ukraine or provoking Russia. Not to mention our reckless blind support of Israel. Sullivan is a war-monger and traitor to our nation. Alaska deserves better.
Well, Tim, tell us how its like to live on your knees? Does it get lonely down there appeasing war criminals?
Given your desire to appease dictators, like Mr. Chamberlin, and your hatred of Israel, I suspect if this was 1939 you’d be on Adolph’s side.
I’m puzzled. What are their engagement orders? How did they not know they were being tagged like that? Do we not allow them to counter? I would think that if they were really surprised they shouldn’t be flying.
Humanity will perpetually be in a state of war if they do not learn to have love in their hearts for their fellow man. The masses are so easily manipulated into thinking there is yet another enemy lurking around the corner. Until humanity wakes up and follows the divine law of one, there is no amount of voting that will save them.
Maybe, Perhaps if we just allow Xi to dominate the world and everyone is in perfect obedience to him, then there will be PEACE, but methinks you won’t like it… So, the experiment continues.
The Russian pilot caught American pilot with their pants down, flat out, no question. Sad.
The U.S. under a Democrat regime: Pours hundreds of billions of dollars into a proxy war with Russia, including millions of dollars into the personal accounts of the mafioso running Ukraine, and funding the pension plans of Ukrainian civil service……Pikachu face when Russian planes buzz ours.
You can’t make this up…..
As usual, 90% of the comments on this story are complete non-sequiturs.
You obviously missed the point. Sullivan needs to get his priorities straight. His BS Proxy War-for-Profit shouldn’t even be in the Top 10.
Looks like a great opportunity for the US Pilot to have taken a much deserved ‘shot’ at the Ruskie Fighter Jet! Then, take a shot on the Ruskie Bomber, to the left. Maybe(?), when these ‘willful’ incursions are met with real ‘consequences’ then maybe they will cease!
Crazy Ivan
Blame the neo-cons. Maybe the Russians would not be harassing our air space if we were not funding the proxy war in Ukraine. Remember, Sullivan is a member of the CFR: Council on Foreign Relations. It is the beating heart of neo-con war mongers. What is going on in Ukraine is a threat to, um, Alaska. Never thought of that? Think again.
Quit crying like little girls and buzz them back… It looks like fun… These are the same “bad guys” that give your US Astronauts rides to ISS and back… And stop embarrassing yourselves on X… Double Face Palm… ^^^
That’s what I’m talking about cybro. M is making comments about some punk Russian fighter pilots. I’m hoping our fighter pilots are punks too. I don’t want candy a– fighter pilots in my jets .
Feckless leadership at work, Biden has done what Obama said he would do when he said “don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to F@(k things up”.
In 2018 and again in 2019, when faced with a federal government shutdown, President Trump sought only $5B in funding to complete border security. The opportunity to leverage stop-gap funding measures was completely dismissed by congress. I question the genuineness of one senator when quoted by CNN lamenting about addressing public lands in the funding measures, “this is something that I wish we had been able to resolve.” Whenever I hear someone mention Ukraine and the need for additional billions, I always recall how a mere $5 billion was requested and denied to Trump for our own domestic U.S. security. Interestingly, Alaska’s public lands issues are still not resolved.
Well as much drama as this brings…the reason Russia exhumed graves in Russia and Jerusalem is not doing well…and word is that Kingdom of Heaven – Modern Day Version is about to come to pass…so get ready for it folks…the First People might be drug in it playing global referee now…or it’s over…I guess that’s what happens when you hide the Heir of Russia in Alaska…that one turns around and hires someone smarter than them…
20,000 years smarter than all of us…let that sink in…or we all sink as a humanity…hard stare…
Why give Ukraine money to protect their border when OURS needs it badly?
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