Tokyo has protested close passes of Chinese Xian JH-7 strike aircraft near NAMC YS-11EB surveillance aircraft in international airspace.
The Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) cites two passes against Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) YS-11EBs on the mornings of 9 and 10 July over the East China Sea.
On the 9th a JH-7 conducted an “unusual approach”, during which it came with 30m (98ft) horizontally and 60m vertically of the slow-moving surveillance aircraft.
An image posted by the JMOD shows a People’s Liberation Army Air Force JH-7 flying near the YS-11EB. The twin-engined jet is pictured with external fuel tanks and is also armed with what appears to be a PL-5 short-range air-to-air missile. The weapon’s white paint suggests a live round.
A day later another JH-7 conducted an almost identical unusual approach against a YS-11EB.
The 9 July incident lasted about 15 min, while the 10 July incident lasted about 10 min.
“Such unusual approaches by Chinese military aircraft could lead to an accidental collision,” says the JMOD.
Powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Dart Mk 542-10K turboprops, the YS-11EB serves the JASDF in the electronic intelligence and electronic warfare support roles.
The JH-7 serves as a strike aircraft against both land and sea targets.
Chinese pilots have a long history of dangerous intercepts against surveillance aircraft operating in international airspace.
Less than one month ago, in mid-June, Tokyo protested the close approaches of Shenyang J-15 fighters to its patrol aircraft during a unique joint deployment of China’s two operational aircraft carriers to the Western Pacific.
The incidents occurred on 7 and 8 June and involved jets operating from CNS Shandong, according to the JMOD.
