A formation of four Russian and Chinese bombers that flew through international airspace off Alaska last month signaled China’s growing interest in the Arctic and Russia’s intention to support its ally’s operations in the region, according to US military experts.

The advance of two Russian and two Chinese bombers through international airspace off Alaska was unprecedented – a fact that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed in a press conference the day after the incident.

Jet fighters from Alaska and Canada intercepted the formation on July 24 and escorted it through the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Austin says the joint Russian-Chinese operation shows the growing relationship between the two countries and their shared interest in Arctic operations.

“This is a relationship that has caused us concern,” he said.

Austin said the concern was based primarily on China helping Russia maintain its invasion of Ukraine, but he agreed when a reporter asked whether the two countries were testing the U.S. and its allies by flying the planes together through Alaska’s ADIZ airspace.

“Whether our adversaries are testing us now or not, they are constantly testing us,” he said, “and that is no surprise to any of us.”

“This is an escalation”

US Senator Dan Sullivan said the flight of the bombers off Alaska’s coast reflected China’s increasing efforts to operate in the Arctic. In a press release issued hours after the flight was disrupted, he said: “Alaska continues to be on the front lines of authoritarian aggression by dictators in Russia and China, who are increasingly working together.”

“Make no mistake, this is an escalation – the first time Russia and China have sent a joint bomber task force into the Alaska ADIZ,” Sullivan said in the press release.

An Arctic security expert at the University of Alaska Fairbanks agrees.

“This represents a relatively significant increase in military cooperation between China and Russia,” said Cameron Carlson, founder and former director of the UAF’s Center for Arctic Security and Resilience. “And that is significant.”

China signals further joint operations

“I think it’s also an important geopolitical signal that they’re going to come together and conduct more joint military activities,” said Carlson, who is now dean of UAF’s College of Business and Security Management.

The U.S. and Canadian air forces have been intercepting Russian aircraft flying through Alaska’s ADIZ for years. Recently, U.S. Coast Guard and Navy vessels have tracked Russian and Chinese warships crossing international waters within the 200-mile-wide U.S. economic zone around Alaska. Carlson expects more joint operations. He said former Northern Command and NORAD commander Gen. Glen VanHerck believes last week’s aircraft incursion shows the Chinese now have access to Russian airfields in the Arctic.

“This gives them a power proximity to the United States that they never had in the past,” he added.

Carlson said last month’s incursion was the first but likely won’t be the last.