Russian military planes, including Backfire bombers, breached Japanese airspace on two occasions Wednesday, Defense Agency officials said.
Four Russian planes, including two Backfire Tu-22 bombers, flew eastward over Japanese territory near Rebun Island, northern Hokkaido, between 11:59 a.m. and 12:02 p.m. Two Backfire planes also flew eastward near the airspace between 2:36 p.m. and 2:39 p.m., the officials said.
The Russian planes flew into airspace above the high seas after fighters from Japan's Air Self-Defense Force intercepted them. More than a dozen fighters from the ASDF's Chitose, Misawa and Hyakuri bases in Hokkaido, Aomori and Ibaraki prefectures, were involved.
Another plane flew near Japanese territory west of Aomori Prefecture around noon.