Japan's defense minister said the use of flares was a legitimate response to airspace violation and "we plan to use it without hesitation."

The infringements were the first by Russia in five years, according to the Japanese defense ministry. A fighter fired a warning flare in response.

Japanese warplanes used flares to warn a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that breached airspace above Rebun Island three times during a joint Chinese-Russian naval exercise. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara condemned the violation,

Japan says its warplanes used flares to warn a Russian reconnaissance aircraft to leave northern Japanese airspace.

Japan's Defense Ministry said Monday that a Russian military aircraft violated the country's airspace three times, prompting an Air S

On September 23, Russian military patrol planes violated Japanese airspace three times over Rebun Island, located North of Hokkaido. This information was confirmed by Japan’s Chief Secretary of the Government, as reported by The Yomiuri Shimbun.

A Russian military patrol aircraft violated Japanese airspace near Hokkaido’s Rebun Island three times on Monday. Japan's government has protested to Russia through diplomatic channels, demanding prevention of future occurrences,

TOKYO -- A Russian military patrol aircraft violated Japanese airspace off the northernmost main island of Hokkaido three times between 1 and 3 p.m. Monday, Japan's government says, prompting Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets to warn off the intruding plane using flares for the first time.

Tokyo's defense ministry said the Russian surveillance plane violated its airspace repeatedly on Monday. China violated its airspace last month.

Japanese jet fighters fired warning flares at a Russian military reconnaissance plane that violated Japan’s airspace, the first time Tokyo has taken such an aggressive stance against incursions of its airspace.

The Russian aircraft intruded three times and ignored radio warnings, prompting flares from Japan’s self defense aircrafts.