Russian bombers, four times in four days, flew close to Alaska in another series of provocations. On Wednesday, two IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft flew near Alaska and on Thursday two Tu-95 Bear bombers flew near the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, according to CNN. On Monday, Air Force F-22s responded to TU-95s flying near the zone, and on the next day an Air Force E-3 Sentry also responded to the TU-95s. A North American Aerospace Defense Command official said although the heightened activity has not been seen “for a couple years,” it is not unprecedented, CNN reported.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
