Japan reports ASDF scrambles against Russian aircraft fewest in 10 years

Japan's Air Self-Defense Force scrambled jets less often during the year that ended in March. The number of sorties against Russia fell to the lowest in a decade.

The Defense Ministry says ASDF fighter jets were ordered into the air 778 times against foreign aircraft approaching Japanese airspace in fiscal 2022. That's down 23 percent from the year before.

Sorties against Chinese aircraft took place 575 times, accounting for 74 percent of the total. The number of responses to Russian aircraft stood at 150, down more than 40 percent from the previous year.

The Defense Ministry also reported 53 scrambles against unidentified flying objects and other phenomena -- the most since record-keeping began.

The sighting of a Chinese balloon over the US mainland earlier this year apparently prompted the ASDF to increase sorties against objects of unknown origin.

The ministry says it will strive to gather information and engage in surveillance against all approaching objects, including foreign unmanned spy balloons.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230418_21/