NORAD’s F-16s practice air defense operations at a remote airfield in Alaska.

F-16s from the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron were deployed to remote King Salmon Airport to demonstrate NORAD’s readiness to respond to potential threats across Alaska.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced that the U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (18 FIS), was deployed from Eielson AFB to King Salmon Airport, Alaska, on April 7, 2026. According to the DVIDS network caption, the exercise took place on April 2.

In this operation, two F-16s were deployed to King Salmon Airport and the fighters were launched to practice sorties. King Salmon Airport, located on Alaska’s southwestern coast off the Bering Sea, is more than 750 kilometers from Eielson AFB in central Alaska.

The F-16 practiced intercepting a friendly KC-135 Stratotanker with other fighters, including at least another F-16. The KC-135s then refueled the Vipers (as the crew named the F-16s) on the return journey to Eielson AFB.

The deployment demonstrated “how the Alaska NORAD region maintains a variety of response options to detect, deter and defeat potential threats to U.S. and Canadian airspace 24/7 throughout Alaska operations.”

aircraft

The operational photo shows four F-16s, two flying a practice sortie and two being intercepted with a KC-135 Stratotanker. It is unclear whether other assets were also involved.

In particular, one of the aircraft is flying under the “Cajuns” livery of the Air Force Reserve Command’s (AFRC) 706th Attack Squadron, headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. In fact, the unit has been receiving upgraded Block 30 jets from several units since its redesignation from the 18th Aggression Squadron to the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in 2024.

Interestingly, the aircraft in the aerial refueling photo that immediately links the 18th FIS back to its previous Aggressor mission is an F-16C Block 30 with the green, tan and black “BDU Splinter” camouflage scheme unveiled in 2017. Some of the specially painted F-16s are still flying, sometimes used in quick reaction alert (QRA) missions, such as when they intercepted Russian aircraft in May 2024. Tu-95, Su-35S and Su-30SM, off Alaska.

The KC-135 Stratotanker, traveling with a tail flash, is assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard’s (ANG) 126th Air Refueling Wing (126 ARW).

payload

Interestingly, all F-16s are equipped with Angry Kitten Electronic Warfare (EW) pods, a system that has been around for some time. Ford also made his combat debut in the ongoing campaign against Iran.

It’s unclear if this is the first time Angry Kitten pods have been found on NORAD’s F-16s used in QRA missions. It should be noted that the Russian Ilyushin Il-20 COOT-A signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft, which is frequently seen over the Baltic Sea, also began appearing in NORAD airspace, having been intercepted four times from August 20 to 26, 2025.

It is not known whether the addition of Angry Kitten’s EW capabilities to NORAD’s F-16 is related to the Russian Il-20. But it also cannot be separated from a broader emphasis on electromagnetic spectrum warfare capabilities across frontline combat platforms.

The F-16’s remaining payload includes both inert and active weapons. Specifically, two F-16s deployed to King Salmon Airport were seen carrying inactive (blue band) CATM-120Cs and CATM-9Xs and ACMI pods, while the remaining two F-16s were seen carrying live (yellow band) AIM-120Cs and AIM-9Ms in a formation with a KC-135.

March 4, Russian Tu-142 intercepted

On the 12th, the Alaska NORAD Region and Alaska Command also released an image of one of the two Russian Tupolev Tu-142 anti-submarine and maritime reconnaissance aircraft intercepted by U.S. and Canadian fighter jets on March 4. The images included two Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-18s (the Canadian designation for the F/A-18C/D Hornet) and an F-35A Lightning II. F-35 – Image captured.

Official releases at the time reported that 12 U.S. and Canadian jets were involved in the intercept, including two F-35As, two F-22 Raptors, two CF-18s, four KC-135 Stratotankers, and an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).

There is no need for the F-35 in the NORAD area.

The dynamics of the NORAD regional security situation in Canada, Alaska, and the Arctic region also generated interesting comments from General Gregory M. Guillot, Commander of Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and NORAD. Guillot, appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) on March 19, said the theater does not need advanced jets like the F-35, which could be diverted to other flashpoints with more pressing needs.

Guillot responded to a question from Sen. Tom Cotton: “Today’s fighter fleet is one of the smallest and oldest fleets ever. The Air Force is also struggling with low fighter readiness rates. Do you think NORTHCOM and NORAD will benefit from an expanded fighter force?”

To this Guillot replied:

“Yes, I would like to see continued modernization of the 4th generation fighters. Frankly, we do not need the 5th generation to defend our borders. These capabilities are better used overseas (…) where stealth and air-to-ground weapons, penetrative capabilities are needed. So the 4th generation, improved and modernized to include the F-15EX in select positions, will meet all our requirements.”