The SDF's emergency launch of aircraft and other aircraft that may violate airspace decreased by more than 2% from the previous fiscal year last fiscal year. This is the lowest number of Russian aircraft in 10 years as they continue to invade Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the number of scramble = emergency launches conducted by JASDF fighters last fiscal year was 778, a decrease of 226 times or 23% from the previous year.
By country, Chinese aircraft accounted for 575% of the total with 74 flights, while Russian aircraft accounted for 150 times,
accounting for 19% of the total.
The number of emergency launches to Russian aircraft decreased by more than 4% from the previous fiscal year, the lowest in 10 years.
The Ministry of Defense said that it is "difficult to answer definitively" about the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and that the two countries continue to be active, with joint flights of Russian and Chinese bombers confirmed twice last year.
On the other hand, for "others" such as unidentified flying objects, 2 times, the highest number since statistics began to be collected.
In response to the discovery that a Chinese balloon was flying over the U.S. mainland, it is believed that the emergency launch confirmation of unidentified flying objects has increased.
The Ministry of Defense said, "We will strive to collect information and conduct surveillance monitoring, including unmanned reconnaissance balloons by foreign governments."
Minister of Defense: "The vigorous activities of Chinese and Russian aircraft continue, and surveillance is fully monitored"
Defense Minister Hamada told reporters after the Cabinet meeting, "Chinese and Russian aircraft continue to be active in their activities, including two long-distance joint flights around Japan by Chinese and Russian bombers, and the announcement of Chinese drone flights significantly exceeding last year's results.