Reported 7 months ago
According to the Youth Daily News on July 17, 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Defense revealed statistics showing that during the 3rd quarter of the 2023 fiscal year (from April to December), the Air Self-Defense Force scrambled 555 times, with 71% (392 scrambles) intercepting Chinese military aircraft and 98% (148 scrambles) intercepting Russian military aircraft. The Naha Base, located in the southwestern airspace of Japan, accounted for the highest number of scrambles at 58.9%. The base has been strategically crucial since its establishment as a naval airfield in the 1930s, continuously expanding to become a vital location for intercepting threats to Japan's security, particularly from China. The base is equipped with various military units, including fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and search and rescue helicopters, serving multi-faceted and complex missions amidst increasing military activities in the region.
Source: YAHOO