Japanese fighters escort Russian bombers over the Pacific Ocean
RIA Novosti with reference to the Ministry of Defense of Russia stated that Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighters accompanied two Russian strategic Tu-95MS bombers over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk and parts of the Pacific Ocean.
The ministry said that the Russian Tu-95MS had a planned 15-hour flight, during which they refueled in the air. A fleet of Su-35S fighters accompanied them.
"At certain stages of the route, Russian aircraft were accompanied by Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force fighters, ” said the department.
In early September 2018, Japanese fighter jets accompanied two Russian Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft and one Su-24 bomber, flying along the borders of Japan.
In November last year, Japanese fighters escorted a Russian patrol anti-submarine aircraft IL-38, which approached the western coast of the island of Honshu. Japan noted that it did not violate the borders of the country's airspace.