Russian Il-38 breaches Japan airspace thrice

A Russian Ilyushin Il-38 breached Japanese airspace on 23 September on three separate occasions, according to the Japan (MoD). (Japan Ministry of Defense/Janes)

A series of airspace breaches by a single Russian Federation Ilyushin Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft this week prompted Japanese interceptors to launch flares near the aircraft in warning, the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) has said.

During the incident, which occurred on 23 September north of Japan's Rebun Island (near Hokkaido island), the Russian Il-38 breached the airspace over Japanese territorial waters three times between 1300 and 1500 h local time, according to the MoD.

A map of the event released by the MoD shows that Japan began tracking the aircraft closely after it entered Japan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) and flew over the airspace north of Rebun Island from 1250 h local time.

In response, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's (JASDF's) Northern Air Defense Force scrambled Boeing (Mitsubishi) F-15 and Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, according to the MoD. The Il-38 subsequently violated the airspace above the waters between Rebun Island and Hokkaido's Cape Noshappu for a minute from 1303 to 1304 h local time, the ministry said, adding that a second violation followed for 30 seconds at 1531 h local time.

A third violation occurred from 1542 to 1543 h local time for about one minute. The JASDF aircraft responded “by issuing radio notification as well as warnings using flares”, the MoD said.