USAF RAPTORS INTERCEPT RUSSIAN BOMBERS OFF THE COAST OF ALASKA

Two Russian Tu-95 bombers were flying close to U.S. borders.

USAF F-22 stealth fighters intercept Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska.

Two Russian Tu-95 "Bear" bombers were intercepted by USAF F-22 stealth fighters in international airspace off the coast of Alaska on May 11, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

The Russian long-range bombers flew into the Air Defense Identification Zone, which extends approximately 200 miles off Alaska's western coast.

"At approximately 10 a.m. ET, two Alaskan-based NORAD F-22 fighters intercepted and visually identified two Russian TU-95 'Bear' long-range bomber aircraft flying in the Air Defense Identification Zone around the western coast of Alaska, north of the Aleutian Islands," NORAD and USNORTHCOM spokesman Canadian Army Maj. Andrew Hennessy said in a statement.

The Russian aircraft were "intercepted and monitored by the F-22s until the bombers left the ADIZ along the Aleutian Island chain heading west," and never entered US airspace, according to the statement.

A very similar interception had already taken place about a year ago.

Images: USAF