US and Canadian fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian and Chinese nuclear capable strategic bombers as they commenced war games during President Joe Biden‘s address to the nation.

The Russian Tu-95MS ‘Bear’ turboprop and Chinese H-6 jet were intercepted close to US state Alaska.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command detected and tracked the aircraft as they entered the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on Wednesday, the command said. The bombers with fighter escorts were on a five hour joint patrol over the Chukchi Sea, the Bering Sea and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean in a show of firepower by Moscow and Beijing amid unprecedented international tension.

It comes after Vladimir Putin staged nuclear war drills for the second time this month as he seeks to ramp up fears of the West in his population. ‘NORAD detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian Tu-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ),’ the statement said.

The actions of the Russian and Chinese military aviation were not considered a threat, and the aircraft remained over international waters.

‘NORAD fighter jets from the United States and Canada conducted the intercept,’ the North American Aerospace Defense Authority explained.

The Chinese H-6 aircraft are licensed copies of the Soviet Tu-16 bombers.

A statement by the Russian Defence Ministry said: ‘A group of the Tu-95MSstrategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Hong-6K strategic bombers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force conducted a joint air patrol over the Chukchi Sea, the Bering Sea and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean.

‘The Russian and Chinese crews practiced cooperation while carrying out an air patrol mission in a new area.

‘The Su-30SM and Su-35S aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces provided fighter cover.’

Read More Here