Jets are us

U.S. combat planes caught four Soviet airliners fleeing in intercontinental skies West of Alaska this week, officers said. On Tuesday, two Tu-95 Bear and two Su-35 Flanker fighters boarded the so-called Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, NORAD said in a Wednesday declaration. But NORAD did not say how near US air space the plane from Russia was and in which directions.

According to Reuters, Russia's state press said that the US jets were escorting their plane for about 40 min and never got nearer than 100m. After the Second World War, this defensive area - known as the FDIZ - was proclaimed one-sided by the USA and is not obligatory under any kind of agreement.

Thats the second similar capture this months after US fighters briefly escorted Soviet air liners westward from Alaska on September 1. Over the past few years, Russia has been charged with perilously fly near US planes and vessels in the Black Sea of East Europe and repeated violations of NATO allies' air space in the Baltic.

"Defending the home is NORAD's top priority," said NORAD's testimony after the Tuesday capture. "NORAD's website and the surveillance of aeroplanes flying into a U.S. or Canada air defence zone located in the zone indicated by the following link: identi?cation shows how NORAD conducts its aeronautical and space alert and surveillance operations for the United States and Canada." Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, NORAD commandant, added: "The home country is no longer a haven, and the capacity to ward off and combat hazards to our people, essential infrastructures and domestic agencies begins with the successful detection, tracing and positive identification of planes of interest that approach U.S. and Canada air space.

According to its regulations, the USA requires all non-U.S. planes to authenticate themselves with their timetable when they enter the defensive area. FAA alerts alien planes to be stopped by combat jets, during which period they are asked to make wireless contacts and obey orders.