[RayChuang88]

Here's the question: was the planes intercepted not Tu-95 models, but the Tu-142 as shown thus:

The Tu-142 is a special Tu-95 variant originally designed originally for very long range anti-submarine warfare but later upgraded to be a very sophisticated electronics intelligence/signals intelligence (ELINT/SIGINT) platform akin to certain RC-135 versions flown by the USAF. As such, these planes are often seen flying off the coast of Alaska and off the coast of Norway down to the North Sea.

[WhiskeyX]

CBC News identified the Bear bombers as two TU-95 bombers. It’s unknown whether or not they took note of such differences.

[X-spurt]

And no doubt heard long before being seen.