Japanese F-2 Fighters Scramble to Meet Russian T-95 Strategic Bombers Over the Pacific

A routine flight by two Russian Tu-95MS ‘Bear’ Intercontinental range strategic bombers was intercepted on March 24th by Japanese F-2 single engine fighter jets. The Russian defence ministry stated regarding the incident: “Two T-95MS strategic missile carriers of the Aerospace Forces completed a planned flight in airspace over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan and the northwestern Pacific Ocean.” This follows a series of interceptions of Russian and Chinese nuclear capable bombers by Japanese fighters. The Tu-95 is one of two classes of Russian intercontinental range bombers, and has been equipped with Kh-101 and Kh-102 radar evading cruise missiles with an estimated range of 3000-5,500km. The latter is nuclear armed, and these missiles allow the Russian aircraft to strike targets across Japan and the entire European theatre without leaving Russian airspace. The F-2 is a lightweight design derived from the American F-16 Fighting Falcon, and is equipped with AIM-120C missiles with a 105km engagement range and powerful J/APG-1 active electronically scanned array radars. A modernisation program two replace these with the J/APG-2 radar is currently underway, which could potentially allow the jets to operate more modern and longer ranged missiles such as the AIM-120D.