In response to the Russian plane's violation of Japan's airspace on the afternoon of September 23, the fighter jets of the country's Defense Forces fired warning flares for the first time.
Points of attention
- Recent incidents involving Russian military aircraft violating Japan's airspace have prompted responses from the Japanese Defense Forces.
- Japan responded to the violations by firing warning flares and launching signal missiles for the first time, signaling the seriousness of the airspace breaches.
- The territorial dispute between Japan and Russia adds complexity to the situation as warplanes fly over the disputed areas without entering Japan's airspace.
- Russian military aircraft have violated Japan's airspace multiple times in the past, leading to strong protests and mobilization of Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets.
- The escalation of incidents involving Russian military aircraft flying near Japan highlights the ongoing tensions and the importance of maintaining vigilance in the region.
Japan reacted to the violation of its airspace by a Russian plane
According to Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi, a Russian Il-38 military patrol plane violated Japan's airspace three times after noon on September 23.
Disturbances were recorded over the Sea of Japan (East Sea) near Rebun Island in the north of Hokkaido Prefecture.
In response, fighters of the Japanese Defense Forces were raised, which warned the Russian aviation by launching signal missiles.
It is noted that this was the first time Japan launched signal missiles as a warning when its own airspace was violated.
Kyodo News adds that, in connection with this incident, Tokyo expressed an "extremely strong protest" to Moscow.
Japan raised fighter jets into the air: what happened
Japan put fighter jets into the air on September 13 after Russian warplanes flew over the archipelago for the first time in five years.
According to the statement of the Ministry of Defense of Japan, from morning to noon, two Russian Tu-142 aircraft flew from the sea between Japan and South Korea in the direction of Okinawa Prefecture.
They then headed north over the Pacific Ocean to end their journey near northern Hokkaido, the ministry added.
The planes did not enter Japan's airspace, but flew over the territory that is the subject of a territorial dispute between Japan and Russia, the ministry said.
In response, we urgently mobilized fighter jets of the Air Self-Defense Forces.
The last time Russian military aircraft flew over Japan was in 2019, a ministry representative said, but then it was about bombers that entered the country's airspace.
