This image is now making the endless copypaste Tumblr rounds wrongly labelled as “missiles in the stratosphere”. But if those are not really missiles, what are they? The answer is much more interesting, according to Military.com.
Two Mig-29 [on the background] intercepted by F-15 Eagles [the two trails flying away and crossing] of the 21st Composite Fighter Wing. The 43rd and 54th Tactical Fighter Squadrons, part of the 21st CFW, patrolled 580,000 square miles from the North Pole to the tip of the Aleutian Islands.
MAVERICK! ICEMAN! Get out of the locker room! (I know, they flew F-14 Tomcats but whatevs!).