NORAD Leader Expresses Interest in Recent High-Altitude Drone Incidents in Light of Escalating Russian Activities
Fired Up in the Far North:
GOING NECK AND NECK WITH RUSSIA - CLOSE ENCOUNTERS IN ALASKA'S AIRSPACE
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.-Russians keep pushin' it, man. Icy Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot spilled the beans at the annual Air Force Association conference, revealin' that the unruly Russian aircraft have buzzed Alaska's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) a whopping four times in the last week. And it ain't just any old planes we're seein' either, it's bombers, patrol craft, and even military aircraft.
"We've been scramblin' our fighters, AWACS, and tankers to keep 'em at bay," Gen. Guillot explained, "but it shows an escalated presence."
Here's the lowdown on these close encounters:
- Sept 11: Two Russian military aircraft flew into their turf.
- Sept 13: Two TU-142 bombers dropped by for a visit.
- Sept 14: Two IL-38 patrol craft grabbed a slice of the action.
- Sept 15: Yep, you guessed it, two more IL-38 patrol aircraft joined the party.
Gen. Guillot didn't wanna share the dirty details on what exactly went down on Sept 11, but it's safe to assume those fighter jets were makin' a ruckus.
Now, don't get it twisted - these ADIZ incursions ain't the same as strollin' right into American airspace. But it's still a tense situation, especially since it's been the longest streak of consecutive days with an announced detection in years.
It don't stop there. Remind me to tell you about that incident in July where NORAD kept tabs on two Chinese bombers flyin' near Alaska - yep, the first time they've showed their faces up there. And guess what? Russia was there too, protectin' their buddy.
That ain't theonlytime the two have joined forces. Since 2019, there have been eight coordinated bomber flights between Beijing and Moscow. That's like sayin' they're besties.
"China's been poppin' up more and more in the Arctic," said Gen. Guillot, warning us of the growing interest. China's been callin' themselves a "near-Arctic State" since 2018, hittin' on the ice cap meltin' as a gateway to new trade routes. And they might try to lean on Russia's presence to shore up their own.
To keep up with these sly adversaries, Gen. Guillot's freakin' out about sensors, man. Sensin' tech that reaches from sea floor all the way to space, man, and he ain't messin' around. If they can't cover the range they used to, it's all over.
In the meantime, he's turnin' to drones for a quick fix. U.S. Central Command's sniffin' around low-cost, long-endurance drones for the Air Force's Task Force 99 program, and Gen. Guillot's all for it. He's got his eyes on flexible, agile drones that can cover that vast inhospitable territory. And don't forget - those all-terrain RQ-4 Global Hawk drones might be just what the doctor ordered... if they're tweaked for the Arctic, of course.
It ain't just the planes we've gotta worry about - even the ground troops gotta be toughened up for the frosty, rugged climate. "We're minecraftin' more and more exercises up there," Gen. Guillot said, sharin' that fighter squadrons ain't always gonna be ready for the cold, harsh environment - something that demands specific training.
Gotta watch our backs, stay on our toes, and stick together: that's the motto of the day when it comes to dealin' with these sly Russians and other adversaries in the Arctic.
- General Guillot revealed that Russian aircraft, including bombers and military aircraft, have entered Alaska's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) multiple times in the last week, necessitating the scrambling of fighter jets, AWACS, and tankers.
- On September 11, two Russian military aircraft flew into Alaska's ADIZ, causing a stir among the fighter jets in the area.
- In the span of four days, two TU-142 bombers, two IL-38 patrol craft, and two more IL-38 patrol aircraft have infiltrated the ADIZ.
- In July, two Chinese bombers approached Alaska, marking the first time they had been spotted in the area, with Russia providing escort.
- Since 2019, there have been eight coordinated bomber flights between China and Russia, indicating a growing alliance between the two countries.
- General Guillot is investing in sensor technology that can monitor the sea floor up to space to maintain the Air Force's effective surveillance coverage in the Arctic, and he is exploring the use of long-endurance drones like the RQ-4 Global Hawk for this purpose.
