US News

NORAD Scrambles Fighter Jets as Russian Bombers Test Alaska Airspace Under Trump's Watch

Gary FranchiFebruary 20, 2026137 views
NORAD Scrambles Fighter Jets as Russian Bombers Test Alaska Airspace Under Trump's Watch
Photo by Generated on Unsplash

Russian military aircraft tested American airspace defenses near Alaska on Thursday, forcing NORAD to scramble F-16 Fighting Falcons and cutting-edge F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters to intercept the unwelcome visitors.

The Russian formation included Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers and Su-35 fighter escorts operating in Alaska's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) during what Moscow called "routine military patrol operations." But Patriots know there's nothing routine about Vladimir Putin's military testing American resolve.

This provocative move comes just weeks into President Trump's second term, as the 47th President works to restore American strength on the world stage after four years of Biden administration weakness emboldened our adversaries.

Strong Defense Under Trump Leadership

Unlike the confused responses we saw during the Biden regime's balloon fiasco over Montana, NORAD's swift action demonstrates the difference strong leadership makes. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's Pentagon isn't playing games with threats to American airspace.

The intercept mission showcased America's military superiority, with our F-35s representing the world's most advanced fighter technology. These fifth-generation stealth fighters give our pilots overwhelming advantages against aging Russian aircraft that are decades behind American innovation.

Russia's probe of Alaskan airspace follows a pattern of testing new administrations, but Putin may have miscalculated if he thinks Trump 47 will show the same weakness as previous leaders. This President already proved he's willing to take decisive action against Russian interests when America's security is threatened.

America First Defense Policy

The incident highlights why Trump's "Peace Through Strength" doctrine matters more than ever. While the previous administration let China spy on us with balloons and allowed adversaries to walk all over American interests, the Trump-Vance team is sending clear signals that those days are over.

Our military readiness and rapid response capability remain unmatched, thanks to the brave men and women defending our skies. But how long will Putin keep testing American resolve before he realizes this isn't Biden's America anymore?

G
Gary Franchi

Award-winning journalist covering breaking news, politics & culture for Next News Network.

Share this article:

Comments (7)

Leave a Comment

S
StrongDefenseVerified7 hours ago
This is why Trump's military buildup was so important. Does anyone know what type of fighters we scrambled? Were they F-22s or F-35s?
A
AirForceRetireeVerifiedjust now
Most likely F-22 Raptors out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. They're specifically positioned there for this type of intercept mission.
C
ConservativeRealistVerifiedjust now
The timing is interesting - Putin always seems to test new administrations early. At least our military response was immediate and professional, which sends the right message.
F
FreedomEagle1776Verifiedjust now
Peace through strength works!
A
AlaskaVet87Verifiedjust now
I live in Fairbanks and we see this stuff more than people realize. The Russians have been testing our response times for decades - it's just not always reported. My neighbor works at Elmendorf and says our pilots are always ready.
P
PatriotMike2024Verifiedjust now
Good to see NORAD responding quickly and decisively. This is exactly why we need strong defense spending and can't let our guard down for a second.
D
DefenseFirstVerifiedjust now
Absolutely right. Putin only respects strength, not weakness.