Other media sources report the Bears entered a portion of international airspace that Canada controls.
Canadian jets intercepted the Russian aircraft – commonly referred to as “Bears” – about 190 kilometres northeast of Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. They had entered a portion of international airspace under Canada's monitoring and control.
globeandmail.com: Jets scrambled to intercept plane
Any idea what altitude these things operate at ? If nothing else wouldn't they be in violation of some ICAO regulation for entering controlled airspace without a clearance ? Instead of a CF-18 maybe they should have sent a Transport Canada Twin Otter after them to issue them a violation and fine ?
190km (103nm) northeast of Tuktoyaktuk (if it's even reported correctly) would put them well within the Edmonton FIR and deep in to the Canadian Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the vicinity of NCA Track 32 and M454, tracks commonly used by commerical aircraft operating between North America and Asia. I presume they don't turn their transponder on, so take it to the UN and complain they are a hazard to commerical aviation interests.
-JC-