A recent report from the Japanese Joint Staff detailed that the combat aircraft of the Aerospace Forces of Russia are the main ones responsible for the air alerts of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Of the 71 immediate-response sorties carried out by Japanese fighters during the past month, 43 were due to the presence of Russian aerial assets, the document indicated.
From the Joint Staff it was reported that the Japan Self-Defense Forces had to respond to 71 air alerts in the course of October 2025, “…a number that reflects the response to aircraft that approached or carried out unusual activities near Japanese airspace…”, the report detailed.
Russia’s combat aviation continues to be the main source of activity that triggers air alerts, closely followed by aircraft of the Armed Forces of China. In the case of the Asian giant, in the month of October 25 alerts were recorded that were attended by interceptors of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
October once again showed an active aerial presence in the vicinity of Japan. Particular cases, such as the incident of October 24 that involved the presence of Tu-95 bombers escorted by Su-35 fighters, again confirms Moscow’s intentions to sustain its long-range flights with strategic assets. This activity, in addition to marking presence in the region, also has the purpose of evaluating the response times of the forces of different countries, such as Japan or South Korea.
Although there is no constant combined activity, China and Russia have carried out several coordinated flights with their strategic bombers and escort interceptors, activity that results in the air alerts that the Japan Air Self-Defense Force must execute.
The alerts are not limited to aerial activities, since it is common for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to carry out surveillance and monitoring tasks of Chinese ships. These deployments tend to be increasingly common, given the continuous expansion of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. One example is its aircraft carrier strike groups, formations whose deployments are becoming more complex as China incorporates air-naval capabilities and assets.
As a detail, the report for the month of October did not indicate any alert on the part of North Korea, even though the Pyongyang regime has tried to maintain some activity with the launch of ballistic missiles.
*Illustrative cover image. Credits: USAF – Airman 1st Class Tylir Meyer
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