Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) fighter jets have fired warning shots at a Russian Beriev A-50 “Mainstay” airborne early warning and control aircraft as it violated Korean airspace over Dokdo Island on the morning of July 23.

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) officials said that ROKAF F-15K and KF-16 fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft and, after multiple warning calls, a jet released 10 flares and fired 80 warning shots. This is the first time that the ROKAF has taken such measures in an air-to-air intercept.

After leaving the Korean Air Defence Identification Zone the A-50 returned to the airspace over Dokdo from the south at 9:33 a.m., and the ROKAF jets fired another 280 shots in a second attempt to drive the aircraft out. The 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon of the F-15K and KF-16 each carry 500 rounds.

South Korea’s National Security Office has lodged an objection to the Security Council of Russia and said it will take ‘’even stronger action’’ if the situation is repeated. Japan in turn has also submitted a complaint against South Korea and Russia. As Dokdo is also claimed by Japan with the name of Takeshima Island, the Japanese Ministry of Defence also reacted to the incident and released its scramble report on its website showing the A-50 entering the airspace between 9:09 a.m. to 9:12 a.m. in the first pass and between 9:33 a.m. and 9:37 a.m. in the second pass.

The incident came three hours after another coordinated flypast by Chinese and Russian bombers. After flying south of Jeju Island at around 6:44 a.m., two Chinese Xian H-6H bombers joined up with two Russian Tu-95s above the Sea of Japan before making a southward track towards the East Sea, north of Okinawa, before splitting up.

The JSC officials told Korean media that more analysis is needed for the joint flight, which is unusual. Reuters later confirmed with Russia that it is conducting the country’s first joint long-range air patrol in the region with China.