NORAD detected a Russian fighter jet flying off the coast of Alaska during a large-scale US military exercise

The North American Aerospace Defense Command confirmed it detected and tracked a Russian military aircraft near Alaska on Monday.

Officials confirmed that the Russian craft remained in international airspace and did not enter US or Canadian sovereign airspace.

However, the fighter jet was airborne because several “planned, large-scale military training exercises” were underway in and around the area by the US military.

They added, “Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ is regular and not seen as a threat.”

And ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the easy identification, location and control of all aircraft in the interest of national security.

“NORAD uses a layered defense network of satellites, ground and airborne radars, and fighter jets to track and identify aircraft and take appropriate actions.

“It remains prepared to use a number of response options in defense of North America.”

It is the second time in four days that NORAD has tracked a Russian vessel after intercepting six operating in the same zone on May 11.

Again, the fighter jets did not enter US or Canadian airspace, but the incident did occur during scheduled US military exercises.

The Russian aircraft during that incident were TU-85 bombers, IL-78 tankers and SU-35 fighters.

In a statement about the earlier incident, NORAD claims that since 2007 the number of aircraft intercepted has ranged from zero to 15.

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder said they “responded appropriately” to the May 11 incident.

He added: “It’s not the first Russian flight. It probably won’t be the last.’

This is an evolving story.