In the past few hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense has reported a new patrol flight conducted by Tu-95MS bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) over the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. While this deployment was part of the Russian force’s routine activities, it was confirmed that foreign fighter jets accompanied the units at certain stages of their route.

According to the Ministry of Defense, two strategic Tu-95MS bombers carried out a flight lasting more than eight hours over neutral waters, escorted by Su-35S and Su-30SM fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces. However, it was also mentioned that the bombers were accompanied and monitored by foreign fighter jets. In this regard, Japan’s Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Forces recently reported that fighters from the Northern Air Defense Command responded to an airspace intrusion near the island over the South China Sea. At this time, the specific aircraft that closely monitored the Russian bombers and fighters have not been confirmed.

According to detailed reports from Japanese authorities, in the morning, the Russian bombers and fighters flew from the mainland, changed course off the coast of Cape Shiretoko in Hokkaido, and entered the Soya Strait. They then headed northwest back toward the mainland. In the afternoon, these same four aircraft took off from the mainland again, flying south over the Sea of Japan, from the coast of Okushiri Island in Hokkaido to the coast of the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture, before moving northwest back to the mainland. Lastly, it was also reported that an IL-38 patrol aircraft was detected over the Sea of Japan.

Just recently, at the end of October 2024, Russian bombers conducted a previous deployment over the Sea of Japan, where Japan’s Ministry of Defense detected Su-30SM fighters and Tu-95MS strategic bombers. This particular flight, also described as a routine operation, lasted 10 hours over neutral waters in the region. The Russian Ministry of Defense has consistently stated in official communications that these flights have been conducted in international airspace, adhering to international regulations and provisions.

Finally, this marks the first time this year that Tu-95 bombers of the Russian forces have been deployed for long-range flights near Japan. This latest operation follows a recent patrol flight over the Arctic Ocean by Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS).

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