For the first time, Chinese and Russian strategic bombers simultaneously entered the U.S. Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), coming within approximately 200 miles of U.S. sovereign airspace. Now, China has released footage of the provocation.
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The operation, conducted on July 25, 2024, marked a significant escalation in aerial activities near U.S. territory. From China, two Hun-6K bombers of the 28th Bomber Regiment of the 10th Air Division of the PLA Eastern Theater Command participated. These aircraft took off from the same Russian airbase as the Russian bombers and flew together over the Bering Sea.
This mission marked the first time Chinese strategic Hun-6K bombers entered the area, covering the greatest distance yet during a strategic patrol mission. It was the eighth joint patrol since 2019, with previous operations taking place in the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, and Western Pacific.
The bombers were intercepted by a combination of American and Canadian fighters. The U.S. deployed two F-35 Lightning II and two F-16 Fighting Falcons, while Canada dispatched two CF-18 Hornets. At various points during the patrol, the bombers were escorted by Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters.
The patrol lasted approximately five hours and covered the Chukchi Sea, the Bering Sea, and the northern Pacific Ocean. This operation represents a significant development in Sino-Russian military cooperation and raises concerns about the implications for regional security.
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“This is the first time we’ve seen these two countries fly together like this,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during a Pentagon press briefing. “If this happens again—if there’s any kind of challenge from any direction—I have full confidence that NORTHCOM and NORAD will be ready.”
Photos and videos: Telegram t.me/china3army. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.