Two Russian bombers escorted by SU-35 fighters near Alaska

Two Russian Bear bombers — escorted for the first time by a pair of Su-35 "Flanker" fighter jets — entered Alaska's Air Defense Zone early Thursday morning, US officials said. The formation was intercepted by a pair of US Air Force F-22 stealth fighter jets that were already flying a patrol about 50 miles southwest of Chariot, Alaska. It was the first time advanced Russian Su-35 fighter jets escorted Russian Cold War-era bombers near Alaska. The Russian fighter jets were unarmed and remained in international airspace, officials said.