Japan Defense Ministry: China military aircraft locked radar onto ASDF jets | Japan’s Defense Ministry says Chinese military aircraft intermittently locked its radar onto Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets twice on Saturday.
The ministry says the incidents occurred over waters southeast of Okinawa’s main island.
Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro told reporters on early Sunday that at least one Chinese J-15 fighter jet took off from the aircraft carrier Liaoning.
He said the aircraft intermittently locked its radar onto ASDF F-15 fighter planes that had scrambled in response to a possible intrusion of Japan’s airspace.
The minister said that the first incident took place between 4:32 and 4:35 Saturday afternoon.
A similar incident occurred between 6:37 and 7:08 that evening when another F-15 aircraft was targeted.
No damage to Japanese aircraft or injuries to crew have been reported.
The ministry said it officially announced for the first time radar locking by Chinese military aircraft against Japan’s Self-Defense Forces jets.
Koizumi said the actions of the Chinese military were dangerous acts that went beyond the scope necessary for the safe flight of an aircraft. He said he deeply regrets that such an incident occurred.
Koizumi added that Japan has lodged a strong protest with China and called for measures to prevent a recurrence.
