On Monday, August 26, Japan reported a violation of its territorial airspace by a Chinese electronic warfare aircraft, the Shaanxi Y-9Z, belonging to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The incident occurred near the Danjo Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture in the East China Sea and lasted for two minutes, marking the first such intrusion into Japanese airspace by a PLAAF aircraft.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the Chinese aircraft flew over the waters between the Japanese archipelagos of Koshikishima and Danjo before briefly entering Japanese airspace to the east of the Danjo Islands between 11:29 and 11:31 local time. In response, the Japan Self-Defense Forces activated emergency protocols and deployed Mitsubishi F-2 and Boeing (Mitsubishi) F-15 aircraft from the Western and Southwestern Air Self-Defense Forces.
During a press conference held on August 27, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, stated that the incursion occurred “since we initiated measures against intrusions into our airspace.”
The Shaanxi Y-9, operated by the Chinese Air Force, is known for its multiple capabilities. Since 2019, China has developed several variants of the Y-9, including anti-submarine, early warning, surveillance, and electronic warfare aircraft. The assembly line for these aircraft is managed by the Shaanxi Aircraft Industry (Group) Corporation Ltd (SAIC), under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
The Y-9 is a modernized version of the Y-8, a derivative of the Soviet Antonov An-12 ‘Cub,’ which China acquired in the 1960s. Production of the Y-9 began around 2010, and it entered service with the PLAAF in 2012. This base variant of the Y-9 is primarily used for tactical transport, with a cargo capacity of approximately 20 tons or 100 paratroopers.
Despite the secrecy surrounding these aircraft, in September 2023, a medical evacuation variant of the Y-9 participated in a joint exercise with the Cambodian Armed Forces, marking its first international engagement.
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