A video circulating on Facebook claims to show a Russian missile intercepting a U.S. aircraft in a recent incident near Alaska.

Verdict: False

The video was created using footage from a combat simulation video game and does not depict a real military event.

Fact Check:

The post claims the video shows a Russian missile launch targeting a U.S. aircraft, part of a supposed confrontation between the two nations in Alaskan airspace. However, the clip is not genuine. It can be traced to a YouTube channel called “MasterArm,” which frequently uploads content using DCS World—a combat simulation video game.

The original video, uploaded on October 1, 2024, was labeled as “simulated combat” footage and is clearly a product of CGI. The channel’s owner confirmed via email that all their videos are fictional recreations, stating, “This clip is purely simulation—it was not meant to be shared as real footage.”

While a real intercept involving a Russian Su-35 and a NORAD F-16 occurred on September 23, 2024, there is no verified evidence of a missile launch during the incident. The Department of Defense (DoD) released official footage of the encounter on September 30, showing the Russian aircraft performing an unsafe maneuver, but it does not match the scene depicted in the video circulating online.

Attempts to contact Eagle Dynamics, the developers of DCS World, were unsuccessful, as they did not provide any comment. The Trump campaign’s press office was also contacted regarding this incident, but no response has been received.

Reuters has previously debunked this video or similar cases of DCS World clips being shared as real military footage, contributing to misinformation about air combat events.