PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (KRDO) – The North American Aerospace Defense Command says it is conducting air defense operations between September 20 and 23 in response to recent sightings of Russian aircraft.

Officials say they are doing the operations to “demonstrate NORAD’s air capability, readiness and will to defend the United States and Canada from competitors who continue to test our defenses.”

The organization says Russian aircraft were identified Friday evening within 50 nautical miles of Alaska’s Nunavik Island.