Russian military increases capabilities, overflights near Alaska airspace

Russian military flights outside Russian airspace have reached levels not seen since the Cold War, the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

Most concerning to NORAD officials is not the number of flights into U.S. and allies’ Air Defense Identification Zones but the increasing capabilities of the Russian aircraft and pilots, Adm. William Gortney said.