Russian and Chinese Military Aircraft Enter and Exit KADIZ Three Times... F-15K and Others Scramble (Comprehensive)

Repeated Entry and Exit from Dawn to Daytime
Joint Training Suspected... Military Takes Immediate Tactical Measures

Russian military aircraft 'TU-95' [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Eight military aircraft from China and Russia sequentially entered and exited the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) spanning the South Sea and East Sea, prompting South Korean military fighter jets to scramble urgently.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at around 5:48 a.m. on the 30th, two Chinese military aircraft (H-6 bombers) entered the KADIZ 126 km northwest of Ieodo, moved eastward, and exited the KADIZ at around 6:13 a.m. They then re-entered the KADIZ northeast of Pohang at around 6:44 a.m., flew northward, and exited again at around 7:07 a.m.

Later, at around 12:18 p.m., two Chinese military aircraft (H-6 bombers) and six Russian military aircraft (four TU-95 bombers and two SU-35 fighters) entered the KADIZ 200 km northeast of Ulleungdo, flew southeast of Dokdo, and exited the KADIZ at around 12:36 p.m.

Among the eight aircraft, four?two Chinese H-6 bombers and two Russian TU-95 bombers?flew southwest along the outer edge of the East Sea KADIZ, while the remaining four (two TU-95 bombers and two SU-35 fighters) exited northward from the outer edge of the KADIZ.

The military aircraft from both countries appeared to conduct joint training while flying together. It is reported that when the Chinese side was warned about entering the KADIZ through the military direct communication line (hotline), they responded that it was a "routine training." The military deployed air force fighter jets and implemented tactical measures to prepare for any contingencies even before the Chinese and Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ. Several fighter jets, including F-15K fighters, were reportedly mobilized for these tactical measures.

The Air Defense Identification Zone is an arbitrary boundary set to identify and respond early to military aircraft approaching a country's airspace. It is a different concept from "airspace," which consists of a country's territory and territorial waters. However, it is an international practice for military aircraft entering another country's ADIZ to submit flight plans in advance and notify their position upon entry.

On this day, the Chinese and Russian military aircraft did not violate South Korean airspace. China and Russia had previously entered the KADIZ with six military aircraft in May.

Meanwhile, Japan's Ministry of Defense also announced that the Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets were scrambled urgently. The Ministry stated that two Chinese H-6 bombers moved from the East China Sea to the East Sea via the Korea Strait in the morning, and around the same time, two aircraft presumed to be Russian flew over the East Sea.