US Ally Scrambles Jets Against Russian Nuclear Bombers

Russia has sent two pairs of bombers, which are capable of using nuclear weapons, near the coast of Japan on Thursday, prompting the United States ally to scramble fighter jets.

Newsweek has emailed the Japanese and Russian defense ministries for further comment.

Why It Matters

Japan, a security treaty ally of the United States, is involved in a territorial dispute with Russia over the Northern Territories, also known as the Southern Kuril Islands, that are currently under Moscow’s control after being taken at the conclusion of World War II.

The Russian military flights came after Russia and its quasi-ally, China, sent their nuclear-capable bombers for a joint patrol over the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea, as well as over the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea last November.

What To Know

According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, a pair of Russian bombers, escorted by two fighter aircraft, flew over the La Perouse Strait, also known as the Soya Strait in Japan, which is located off the northern coast of Hokkaido, one of four of Japan’s main islands.

A second pair of Russian bombers was spotted flying over the Sea of Japan, or the East Sea, off the southwestern coast of Hokkaido, as well as the northwestern coast of Honshu, a Japanese main island located south of Hokkaido. It was also escorted by two fighter jets.

Meanwhile, a Russian Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft conducted flight operations over the waters between the Russian mainland in the Far East region and West Hokkaido and Northwest Honshu, according to a map provided by the Japanese Defense Ministry.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed only two bombers, the Tu-95MS, took part in an eight-hour flight training on Thursday, where they flew over the Sea of Okhotsk, located north of Hokkaido, and the Sea of Japan, situated between Japan and the Russian Far East.

According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, each turboprop-powered Tu-95MS bomber, which is old and slow, can carry six to 14 air-launched nuclear cruise missiles.

The bombers, which were escorted by Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter aircraft, encountered “foreign fighters” during certain segments of their flights, the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that the Russian aircraft adhered strictly to international airspace regulations.

The Japanese Defense Ministry’s map indicated the Russian military flights did not enter Japan’s sovereign airspace. Japan has established an air defense zone around the country within international airspace for aircraft identification in the interest of national security.

What People Are Saying

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Friday: “We will continue to closely monitor the military activity of the Russian Federation near our borders.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on January 14: “All the decline, destruction of almost every part [of the communication], including the regular and respectful political dialogue at the top and high levels, was initiated by our Japanese neighbors.”

What Happens Next

Russia is likely to continue its military flights over the waters around Japan. It remains to be seen when the Russian military will carry out another joint bomber flight with China.