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Four-Year Milestone
Analysts warn that global instability requires Canada to spend 'more and faster' on domestic defense.
Departure
Russian aircraft exit the ADIZ and return toward Russian airspace; NORAD assets return to base.
Visual Intercept
NORAD pilots establish visual contact with Russian aircraft near the Bering Strait.
QRA Scramble
Quick Reaction Alert aircraft are launched from Alaskan airbases to identify the tracks.
Initial Detection
NORAD radar systems identify multiple unidentified tracks entering the Alaska ADIZ.
Public Disclosure
U.S. Department of Defense releases imagery of the Su-35 intercept and issues a formal statement.
ADIZ Incursion
Five Russian aircraft enter the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone near the Bering Strait.
NORAD Response
F-16 fighters are scrambled to intercept and monitor the Russian formation.
NATO Summit Pressure
Allies increase calls for Canada to provide a specific timeline for hitting the 2% GDP spending target.
Defense Policy Update
Canada releases 'Our North, Strong and Free,' pledging $8.1 billion in new spending over five years.
Full-Scale Invasion
Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, prompting immediate Canadian sanctions and aid.
As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year, Canada is grappling with an urgent need to overhaul its defense spending and strategic posture. Rising global instability and threats to Arctic sovereignty are forcing Ottawa to accelerate military modernization and meet long-standing NATO commitments.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) successfully tracked and intercepted Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on February 21, 2026. While the aircraft remained in international airspace, the encounter near the Bering Strait highlights the intensifying strategic friction in the Arctic theater.
NORAD scrambled F-16 fighters to intercept a formation of five Russian military aircraft, including Su-35 jets, near the Bering Strait on February 19, 2026. While the encounter was deemed non-threatening, it highlights the intensifying aerial friction within the strategic Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian military aircraft operating within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on February 20, 2026. While the Russian bombers remained in international airspace, the encounter highlights the escalating frequency of strategic signaling in the Arctic theater.