Japan said it scrambled jets yesterday to monitor Russian warplanes, including strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, which had flown along the edge of Japanese airspace up its coast.
Russia’s Defence Ministry, in a statement reported by state-owned RIA news agency, confirmed that its Tu-95 bombers had been escorted by jets from another country during what it described as a routine patrol flight over neutral waters.
The incident took place hours before Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, pledged in her first speech to parliament since taking office to accelerate a defence buildup. Takaichi said Russia’s military activities, along with those of China and North Korea, were posing a “serious concern”.
Japan’s Defence Ministry released a map showing the flight path of the Russian planes off Japan’s west coast over the Sea of Japan.
It said the two Tu-95 bombers were accompanied by two Su-35 fighters and had initially flown towards Japan’s Sado Island before turning northwards.
&uuid=(email))