From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Russian military flights
The
Tokyo Express
(
東京急行
,
T?ky? ky?k?
)
is a term for regular flights by Soviet (and later Russian) military aircraft past Japan. They sometimes involve
violations of Japanese airspace
and have often been intercepted by
fighter aircraft
of the
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
.
During the
Cold War
the flights tended to take place along the
Sea of Japan
side of the country.
[1]
[2]
During the Cold War
Tupolev Tu-16
,
Tupolev Tu-95
and
Myasishchev M-4
aircraft were used. Some of them were transiting to or from
Cam Ranh Base
in southern
Vietnam
. The Soviet Union started using the base in 1979.
After the Cold War ended Russia dramatically reduced its flights and stopped using Cam Ranh base. However, from 2007 Russia re-started regular flights, which now often take place on the
Pacific Ocean
side of Japan.
[3]
[4]
[5]
In this second iteration,
Tupolev Tu-22M
,
Tupolev Tu-95
and
Tupolev Tu-142
aircraft are used. As of 2015 Russian aircraft have begun using Cam Ranh Base again, including for
Il-78
tankers to support bomber flights in the Pacific.
[6]
Since 2019, the
People's Liberation Army Air Force
has also joined this operation, mainly using
Xian H-6
and
Shenyang J-16
to fly with the Russian fleet.
[7]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Soviet Bomber Crashes off Japanese Coast June 27, 1980 page 20
Colorado Springs Gazette
Retrieved September 24, 2017
- ^
Laird, Robbin Frederick & Hoffman, Erik P.,
Soviet Foreign Policy in a Changing World page 301
Retrieved September 24, 2017
- ^
East Asian Strategic Review 2009 Chapter 6: Russia?Evolving into an Independent Strategic Player
Retrieved September 24, 2017
- ^
Burke, Matthew M & Sumida, Chiyomi
Russia's Pacific activity: A show of force or something more? September 9, 2014
Stars and Stripes
- ^
Thompson, Paul
Squadron Histories - 303rd Squadron
J-HangarSpace
Retrieved September 24, 2017
- ^
"U.S. asks Vietnam to stop helping Russian bomber flights"
.
Reuters
. 2015-03-11
. Retrieved
2015-04-12
.
- ^
"中俄兩軍在日本海等空域實施第六次聯合空中戰略巡航"
.
明報
. 2023-06-06
. Retrieved
2023-06-06
.