Japanese warplanes deployed flares on September 24 to warn a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that had breached northern Japan airspace prompting strong protests from Tokyo

Japan's defense minister said the use of flares was a legitimate response to airspace violation and "we plan to use it without hesitation."

In a first, fighter jets in Japan fired flares at a Russian reconnaissance aircraft as a warning after it allegedly breached the nation’s airspace multiple times, according to Tokyo’s Defense Ministry.

Japanese fighter jets fired warning flares at a Russian reconnaissance plane after it repeatedly breached the neighbouring country’s airspace, Tokyo said, as tensions rise over Moscow’s increasing military cooperation with China in the region.

Japan said its warplanes used flares to warn a Russian reconnaissance aircraft to leave northern Japanese airspace on Monday.

After a Russian military patrol aircraft violated Japanese airspace, Japan's Self-Defense Force dispatched an aircraft that, for the first time, fired flares in 'an anti-airspace violation action.'

The Russian Il-38 maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft flew north of Rebun Island three times from 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., violating Japanese airspace with each encroach

Moscow's actions is the first airspace incursion into Japan by a Russian plane since 2019, when a Tu-95 bomber flew over southern Okinawa and the Izu Islands.

For the first time in 60 years, Japanese fighter jets fired warning flares at a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that violated Japanese airspace, reports The Wall Street Journal. On Monday, the Russian Ilyushin Il-38 reconnaissance aircraft violated it three times.