US and Canada Scramble 12 Aircraft to Escort Russian Tu-142 Bombers

The North American Aerospace Defense Command deployed a large group of US and Canadian aircraft to escort two Russian Tu-142 anti-submarine bombers flying near North American airspace, The National Interest reports. Large-Scale Escort Operation According to the publication, a total of 12 aircraft were launched during the operation. These included two F-35A Lightning II fighters, two F-22 Raptor jets, four KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft, and an E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft. The mission also involved two Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighters and a CC-150 Polaris tanker aircraft.