NORAD shared the images of these aircrafts on Twitter.
The
NORAD statement highlighted that two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers were first intercepted by two F-22s.
NORAD said it uses radar, satellites and fighter aircraft to patrol the skies and monitor aircraft entering US or Canadian airspace.
Two F-22 Raptor fighters of the United States Air Force, two CF-188 fighters of the Royal Canadian Air Force as well as the E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft have "identified" two Russian Tu-160 bombers in the international airspace near Canada,
NORAD noted on Sunday.
During the 20-hour period in 2017, more than 1,500 hotline volunteers answered a record 126,103 calls to the
NORAD Tracks Santa 1-877 HI-NORAD hotline.
Although mostly intended to detect threats to the US from air attacks
NORAD is well-placed to keep an eye out for Santa and as such can reassure children that he is both on his way to their house and being kept safe.
For more than 60 years,
NORAD have tracked Santa's flight, with live satellite images showing the moving, present-filled sleigh - with fairy dust pouring out the back.
NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) defends airspace for America and Canada.
Before
NORAD existed its predecessor was called Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD).
on Christmas Eve,
NORAD's "Santa Cams" will stream videos on the website as Santa prepares for his annual, across-the-globe journey.
The
NORAD Santa tracker is almost ready to launch, where families can check the website or app to see where Santa's sleigh is on Christmas Eve.