Overview
- South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said seven Russian and two Chinese aircraft entered and exited the KADIZ around 10 a.m., and South Korea launched fighters in response.
- The aircraft, which included bombers and fighters, moved in and out for about an hour, were detected before entry, and did not violate South Korean sovereign airspace, according to the JCS.
- Military officials said Russian aircraft entered near Ulleung Island and Dokdo and Chinese aircraft near Ieodo, with the formations regrouping over waters near Tsushima Island before departing.
- Japan scrambled fighters and released flight paths showing two Russian Tu-95 bombers linking with two Chinese H-6 bombers and J-16 escorts, while also spotting a Russian A-50 and two Su-30s in the Sea of Japan.
- China’s Defense Ministry said the patrol was part of an annual cooperation plan and the 10th of its kind since such joint flights began in 2019, as Japan continues to track the Liaoning carrier group after recent radar-lock incidents near Okinawa.