A Russian military patrol aircraft trespassed into Japanese airspace near Hokkaido’s Rebun Island three times on Monday, leading Japan’s Self-Defense Force to respond by dispatching fighter jets and firing flares. This marks the first time the SDF has used flares in response to an airspace violation. The SDF fighter jets, F15 and F35, issued warnings over the radio before deploying the flares during the third incident. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara stated that Japan has lodged a diplomatic protest with Russia and requested that they refrain from future airspace violations.
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