Japan and Russia both reported simultaneous air operations over the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk amid rising regional surveillance tensions.
On Friday, October 24, 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced that fighter jets from the Northern Air Defense Force were scrambled on an emergency basis after a suspected airspace violation over the Sea of Okhotsk, north of the Japanese archipelago.
According to the statement, Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) aircraft took off immediately for interception and monitoring missions, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to maintaining full readiness 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to protect its territory and ensure the safety of its citizens.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense (Минобороны России) reported that Tu-95MS strategic bombers from the Long-Range Aviation Command conducted a planned flight lasting more than 11 hours over international waters of the Sea of Japan.
Moscow stated that the bombers were escorted by Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) and were joined at certain stages by aircraft from foreign nations.
The ministry emphasized that all flights were conducted in strict accordance with international airspace regulations, noting that such missions are routinely carried out over the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Black Sea, and Baltic Sea.
While both governments describe the operations as routine and defensive, the incidents occur amid an uptick in military activity across the Asia-Pacific region.
Experts suggest that the combination of Russian strategic flights and Japan’s rapid response underscores the high level of vigilance and air readiness maintained by both countries amid an increasingly sensitive geopolitical environment.
Sources: Japan Ministry of Defense – X @jointstaffpa | Russian Ministry of Defense – Telegram @mod_russia
Be the first to comment