Japan scrambles fighter jets to intercept Chinese modern spy plane

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force intercepted a Chinese GX-8 (also known as Y-9) surveillance aircraft approaching Japanese airspace on December 14.

JASDF fighter jets were scrambled over Japan this morning after a GX-8 electronic warfare and surveillance plane traversing the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea.

The GX-8 medium-sized electronic warfare and surveillance plane is based on the Shaanxi Y-9 transport platform. At least three GX-8s are known to be in service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) North Sea Fleet’s 2nd Air Division.

- ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW -

Modern Chinese spy planes equipped with distinctively elongated antennas on its fuselage are employed to collect signals intelligence and analyse enemy electronic emissions.

China has been regularly dispatching its spy planes to the Sea of Japan and East China Sea.

Readers who wish to follow our weekly coverage can subscribe to the Weekly Defense Roundup.

If you wish to report a grammatical or factual error in this article, please let us know by using the online form.

Executive Editor

Support The Defence Blog

Independent reporting takes resources. Join us on Patreon.

Become a patron

More Like This

Japanese lawmaker demands Patriot missile transfers to Ukraine

A Japanese opposition lawmaker has gone directly to Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a parliamentary committee hearing to demand that Japan supply Patriot air...

China claims its J-10 swept one of Europe’s best jets 9-0

Pakistan's Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets went undefeated against Qatar's Eurofighter Typhoons in nine simulated air combat engagements during a joint exercise in 2024, with...

Chinese firm sells radar stealth coating for drones

Making a drone invisible to radar used to require years of classified engineering work, precision manufacturing, and a defense budget measured in billions. A...

China tells U.S. Korea commander he crossed the line

The top American general in South Korea described the Korean Peninsula as "the dagger in the heart of Asia" from China's perspective, and China's...

After China’s balloon scandal, the U.S. Army is building its own fleet

Three years after a Chinese balloon drifted across the continental United States and was shot down off the South Carolina coast, the U.S. Army...