Russian Bomber Violates Japan Airspace


By MARI YAMAGUCHI – 1 day ago
TOKYO (AP) — A Russian air force bomber briefly violated Japanese airspace Saturday over an uninhabited island south of Tokyo, prompting Japan to scramble 22 fighter jets and issue a protest with Moscow, the Foreign Ministry said. The Russian air force denied the intrusion.
The Russian Tupolev 95 left Japanese airspace after three minutes following warnings by Japanese air force jets over Sofugan in the Izu island chain, 400 miles south of Tokyo, said Foreign Ministry official Kotaro Otsuki.
The ministry immediately lodged a protest with the Russian Embassy in Tokyo and demanded an explanation, Otsuki said. A switchboard operator at the embassy said no one there was immediately available for comment.
ITAR-Tass news agency quoted the head of the Russian Air Force information service, Alexander Drobyshevsky, as denying the intrusion, saying the flyby was part of a mission over neutral waters.
Japan's Defense Ministry scrambled 22 fighter jets, including F-15s, and two airborne warning and control aircraft known as AWACs, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol. He said the Russian bomber had come from the north and headed back northbound after Japan's warning.



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yet this doesn't make news...

Is it normal for the Japanese air force scrambled 22 fighter jets, including F-15s, and two airborne warning and control aircraft? All of this for a Russian Bear? There not at war wouldn't a pair of old F-4 achieve the same task of driving them out of there air space and saving Japan's tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars in aviation fuel?

Not if they're afraid of the Russians...

Originally Posted by rock45

Is it normal for the Japanese air force scrambled 22 fighter jets, including F-15s, and two airborne warning and control aircraft? All of this for a Russian Bear? There not at war wouldn't a pair of old F-4 achieve the same task of driving them out of there air space and saving Japan's tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars in aviation fuel?

It shows that Japan's Defense Forces are not asleep at the switch and that the Russian Air Force had better keep closer tabs on its Aircraft and make sure they stay out of Japanese Airspace.

Originally Posted by The Other Guy

Not if they're afraid of the Russians...

Historically has Japan ever been afraid of Russia? Or anybody else for that matter?

they've never been without a military before.

Their Self Defense Force is among the most advanced military formations in the world.

I just question the reason for sending so many aircraft for some Russian Bear's (don't know how many). I assume higher ups thought it would be good training and went with it but I maybe wrong. I also think some of these Bear missions are recon missions really. Maybe Japan was testing something worth getting a better look at. Maybe it's the cold war up bring in me.

Russian Bombers has violated Norweign Airspace, and this time, Japanese airspace. What's next, Alaskan Airspace?