Japan scrambles fighter jets to head off six Russian bombers flying towards its air space amid rising tensions in the region following Trump’s war of words with North Korea
Defence forces reacted after two strategic bombers were seen close to Pacific Ocean
Russia then deployed two fighter jets to the northern island of Hokkaido
Two anti-submarine aircraft were deployed to the Sea of Japan by Russia
Japanese officials said the aircraft did not tresspass into its territory
By DAVE BURKE
DailyMail.com
12 April 2017
Six Russian aircraft seen close to Japanese airspace forced fighter jets to be scrambled today, according to reports in Tokyo.
Japanese defence forces first reacted after two Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers were seen close to the Pacific Ocean.
Soon afterwards two Russian Ilyushin Il-38 fighter jets were sent out to Hokkaido, which is Japan’s most northern island, NHK reported today.
The same day two anti-submarine aircraft, the Tupolev Tu-142 were deployed by Russia to the Sea of Japan, while two aircraft, believed to be the fighter jets, made a u-turn close to Tokyo after crossing the Pacific Ocean.
They then returned to Russian territory, it has been reported, and the Japanese military said the aircraft did not trespass into its territory.
The alert comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, after Japanese Prime Minister described a North Korean missile test as a grave threat to the region.
The Rest…HERE