Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force fired warning flares at a Russian military aircraft for the first time in history after the plane repeatedly violated Japanese airspace, according to reports from Yomiuri Shimbun and Kyodo News.

This incident occurred against a backdrop of strained relations between Japan and Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Japan has aligned with Western nations in imposing economic sanctions on Russia in response to the war. 

On Monday afternoon, a Russian IL-38 patrol plane entered Japanese airspace over Rebun Island in northern Hokkaido three times between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., as Japan’s Defense Ministry stated. In response, Japanese fighter jets were scrambled and launched flares as a warning, according to Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced the violation Monday evening, describing it as “extremely regrettable” and calling on Russia to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Japanese government lodged an “extremely stern protest” with Moscow over the intrusion.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed officials to respond “firmly and calmly” to the incident while collaborating closely with the United States and other allied nations, Hayashi reported.

Using signal flares marks an escalation in Japan’s response to airspace violations. These flares serve as a warning to intruders and are designed to disrupt enemy infrared-homing missiles.

The airspace violation also comes at a time when Japan and the United States have agreed to enhance joint defense production, particularly focusing on supplying Ukraine with critical defense equipment amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion.

This collaboration not only aims to meet Ukraine’s urgent needs but also to strengthen the Japan-US defense alliance, particularly in light of growing concerns over China’s and Russia’s military activities in the Indo-Pacific region.

In response, Russia threatened Japan with unspecified retaliatory measures if Japan-made Patriot PAC-3 missiles, sold to the United States, were transferred to Ukraine to bolster its air defenses. This warning came after Japan agreed to supply PAC-3 missiles to the US, which is experiencing a shortage due to its military aid to Ukraine.

Related:

• Russia threatens Japan over possible Patriot missiles transfer to Ukraine
• US and Japan to increase Patriot missile production, also to transfer to Ukraine
• Ukraine and Japan strengthen IT coalition cooperation in defense sector
• Ukraine receives first batch of Japanese demining machines, more to come