일본, 2025년 12월 스크램블 횟수 증가, 그러나 2024년 대비 전체 스크램블 횟수는 줄어

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일본 항자대, 2021회계년도에 스크램블 1,004회 기록

2025년 12월 스크램블을 79회 실시해 11월 대비 46회 증가했다고 하네요. 10월엔 71회였습니다.  

그러나 2025회계년도 (4월 시작) 기준 1~3분기인 2025년 4월 ~ 12월까지 총 출격 횟수는 448회로 전년 동기 대비 521회에 비해 73회 줄었습니다. 304회(68%)가 중국 항공기였고, 러시아가 130회(29%), 대만이 1회, 기타 국가(미식별)가 3회였다고 합니다. 

일본, 영공 요격 출격 급증 확인

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항공
다이스케 사토
2026년 1월 20일
수정일: 2026년 1월 20일

2025년 4월 26일 일본 고마쓰 공군기지에 있는 일본 F-35. (사진: 스콧 스워퍼드)

핵심 요점
합동참모본부가 공개한 자료에 따르면, 일본 항공자위대는 2025년 12월에 긴급 전투기 출격을 79회 실시했으며, 이는 전월 대비 두 배 이상 증가한 수치다.
중국 항공기가 53회, 러시아 항공기가 23회의 출격을 유발해 일본 영공 주변 활동이 증가했음을 보여준다.

일본 방위성은 합동참모본부가 2026년 1월 16일 공개한 자료를 인용해, 2025년 12월 항공자위대의 긴급 전투기 출격 횟수가 급증했으며, 일본 영공에 접근하는 외국 군용기를 요격하기 위해 항공기가 79회 출격했다고 밝혔다.

방위성은 이 수치가 11월 대비 46회 증가한 것이며, 연말 하반기 중 가장 높은 월간 기록이라고 설명했다. 해당 자료는 2025년 12월 31일까지의 기간을 포함하며, 전국적으로 수행된 영공 감시 작전을 반영한다.

합동참모본부에 따르면, 12월 출격 가운데 53회는 중국 군용 항공기에 대응한 것이었고, 러시아 항공기는 23회를 차지했다. 추가로 3회는 출처가 즉시 확인되지 않을 때 사용하는 ‘기타’로 분류된 항공기에 대응한 것이었다. 해당 기간 동안 북한이나 대만 항공기에 대응한 출격은 기록되지 않았다.

* 광고 - 아래에서 계속 읽기 -

12월 수치는 2025년 한 해 동안의 총 출격 횟수를 448회로 끌어올렸으며, 이는 연중 지속적으로 관측된 일본 인근 공역에서의 높은 항공 활동 양상을 이어간 것이다. 월별 자료를 보면 출격 활동은 4분기 동안 두 차례 정점을 찍었는데, 10월에는 71회, 12월에는 79회 출격이 있었고, 11월에는 잠시 감소했다.

지역별로 보면, 방위성의 분류에 따라 12월 출격 대부분은 일본 남서부 공역에서 발생했으며 총 54회로 집계되었다. 북부 공역은 6회, 서부 공역은 11회, 중부 공역은 8회를 기록했다. 오키나와 인근과 동중국해 접근로를 포함하는 남서부 지역은 2025년 내내 가장 높은 활동을 지속적으로 기록해 왔다.

합동참모본부는 중국 항공기 활동의 대부분이 동중국해와 서태평양에서 계속 발생했으며, 대만과 일본 남서부 도서 사이를 통과하는 비행도 포함됐다고 밝혔다. 러시아 항공기 활동은 주로 일본 북부와 일본해 인근에서 관측되었으며, 이는 이전 해들의 양상과 일치한다.

일본의 긴급 출격은 외국 군용기가 사전 통보 없이 일본 영공에 접근하거나, 비행 경로가 영공 안보에 대한 우려를 불러일으킬 경우 실시된다. 이러한 임무는 일반적으로 F-15 또는 F-35 전투기가 항공기를 시각적으로 식별하고 일본 영공 밖으로 유도하는 방식으로 수행된다. 방위성은 12월 동안 영공 침범 사례는 보고되지 않았다고 밝혔다.

방위성은 출격 횟수가 적대 행위를 의미하는 것은 아니라는 점을 강조했다. 다만, 당국자들은 지속적인 작전 속도가 항공자위대 전반에 걸쳐 인력, 항공기, 정비 주기에 계속적인 부담을 주고 있다고 지적했다.

일본, 최근 9개월간 중국·러시아 전력 추적을 위한 전투기 출격 14% 감소 보고

디르한 마하디르
2026년 1월 20일 오후 4시 49분

2025년 12월 9일 오키나와와 미야코섬 사이를 비행하는 러시아 Tu-95 폭격기와 중국 J-16. 일본 합동참모본부 사진

일본 합동참모본부는 금요일, 일본 전투기가 지난 9개월 동안 중국과 러시아 항공기에 대응해 448회 출격했으며, 이는 전년 동기 대비 14% 감소한 수치라고 보고했다.

2025년 4월 1일부터 12월 31일까지 일본 항공자위대는 일본의 방공식별구역(ADIZ)에 접근하거나 진입한 항공기를 추적하기 위해 전투기를 448회 출격시켰다. 합동참모본부에 따르면, 이 출격 횟수는 같은 기간인 2024년의 521회에 비해 73회 감소했다.

일본은 국가 안보를 근거로 ADIZ 내에서 중국과 러시아 항공기를 요격하고 추적하기 위해 정기적으로 전투기를 출격시킨다. ADIZ는 영토와 해상에 걸쳐 있으며, 통과 항공기를 추적·식별할 수 있도록 감시 국가의 국가 안보를 기준으로 설정된 구역이다.

합동참모본부가 공개한 수치에 따르면, 2025년 12월 31일 기준 전체 출격 가운데 304회, 즉 68%는 중국 항공기를 추적하기 위한 것이었고, 러시아 항공기를 추적하거나 요격한 출격은 29%에 해당하는 130회였다. 추가로 대만 항공기를 추적한 출격은 1회였으며, 기타 국가에 대한 출격은 13회로, 총합 3%를 차지했다. 일본은 ‘기타’ 범주에 포함된 출격에 대해서는 추가적인 세부 사항을 공개하지 않았다.

이에 비해 2024년 같은 기간 동안 일본은 중국 항공기를 추적하거나 요격하기 위해 345회를 출격했으며, 이는 전체 출격의 66%에 해당했다. 러시아 항공기에 대응한 출격은 173회로 33%를 차지했다. 대만 항공기에 대응한 출격은 없었으나, 특정되지 않은 국가의 항공기에 대응한 출격은 3회 있었다.

보고서와 함께 공개된 지도는 중국 항공편의 거의 대부분이 일본 남서부 도서 주변에서 이루어졌으며, 상당수가 오키나와와 미야코섬 사이 또는 요나구니섬과 대만 사이를 통과했음을 보여준다. 한편 러시아 항공편의 대부분은 홋카이도 본섬 북쪽과 서쪽, 그리고 혼슈 본섬 북부 및 중부의 서쪽 해역에서 이루어졌다. 중국과 러시아 항공기의 합동 비행은 남서부 지역 전반에 걸쳐 나타났다.

2025년 10월 1일부터 12월 31일까지 일본 항공자위대가 추적한 중국 및 러시아 항공기의 비행 경로 지도. 일본 합동참모본부 지도

이번 자료는 전투기 출격이 전체적으로 14% 감소했음을 보여줄 뿐 아니라, 중국 항공기에 대응한 출격은 11% 감소했고 러시아 항공기에 대응한 출격은 거의 25% 감소했음을 반영한다.

전체 출격 횟수가 감소했음에도 불구하고, 일본은 주목할 만하거나 이례적인 비행 활동 사례를 35건 기록했으며, 이 중 12건은 2025년 10월 1일부터 12월 31일 사이에 발생했다. 합동참모본부는 ‘이례적인 비행 활동’을 명확히 정의하지는 않지만, 일반적으로는 정기적으로 관측되지 않거나, 항공기 유형이나 비행 패턴으로 인해 의미가 큰 활동을 포함한다. 일본은 자국민의 관심 대상이라고 판단되는 비행에 대해서는 정보를 공개하고 있다.

최근의 주목할 만하고 이례적인 비행 활동 사례에는 일본해에서의 러시아 Tu-95 폭격기와 전투기 비행, 중국 인민해방군 해군(PLAN) 항공모함 랴오닝함(16번함)에서 출격한 전투기와 헬리콥터의 260회 운용, 중국 H-6 폭격기와 러시아 Tu-95 폭격기의 장거리 합동 비행, 그리고 중국 H-6 폭격기와 전투기가 오키나와와 미야코섬 사이를 통과한 사례가 포함된다. 또한 12월 6일에는 랴오닝함에서 이륙한 J-15 전투기가 J-15에 대한 영공 침범 대응 임무를 수행 중이던 항공자위대 F-15 전투기를 간헐적으로 레이더 조사한 사건도 있었다.

최근 사례 중 네 건은 12월 6일부터 12일까지 이어졌으며, 이 기간 동안 PLAN J-15 전투기들이 랴오닝함에서 이륙했다.

또 다른 세 건은 러시아 IL-20 전자정보 수집기(ELINT)의 비행과 관련된 것으로, 이 중 한 건은 10월 10일 일본해와 오호츠크해 상공을 비행했다. 두 번째는 10월 25일 일본해 상공 비행이었고, 세 번째는 10월 29일로, 러시아 항공기가 일본해에서 오호츠크해와 태평양을 거쳐 왕복 비행을 수행했다. 또한 10월 24일에는 러시아 Tu-95 폭격기 두 대가 Su-35 전투기 두 대의 호위를 받아 일본해 상공을 비행했다.

이후 12월 9일에는 러시아 Tu-95 폭격기 두 대와 중국 H-6 폭격기 두 대가 동중국해에서 시코쿠 본섬 연안까지 합동 폭격기 비행을 실시했다. 같은 날 중국 J-16 전투기 8대, 러시아 Su-30 전투기 2대, 그리고 러시아 A-50 공중조기경보통제기(AEWC) 1대가 일본 주변에서 활동했다.

두 건의 사례는 11월 15일과 11월 24일에 관측된 중국 무인항공기(UAV)로 추정되는 비행과 관련된 것이다. 두 경우 모두 단일 중국 무인기로 추정되는 항공기가 동중국해에서 진입해 요나구니섬과 대만 사이 해역을 통과해 필리핀해로 들어간 뒤 선회 비행을 수행하고, 같은 경로를 통해 동중국해로 복귀했다.

가장 최근에 보고된 사례는 12월 29일로, 중국 인민해방군이 대만을 상대로 ‘정의 임무 2025’ 훈련을 시작한 당일이었다. 중국 H-6 폭격기 2대, Y-9 전자정보 수집기(ELINT) 2대, J-16 전투기 2대, 그리고 중국 전투기로 추정되는 항공기 2대가 동중국해에서 접근해 오키나와와 미야코섬 사이를 통과해 필리핀해로 진입했다가, 이후 방향을 바꿔 같은 경로로 동중국해로 복귀했다.

디르한 마하디르
디르한 마하디르는 말레이시아 쿠알라룸푸르에 기반을 둔 프리랜서 국방 전문 기자이자 분석가다. 그는 1998년 이후 Defence Review Asia, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Navy International, International Defence Review, Asian Defence Journal, Defence Helicopter, Asian Military Review, Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter 등 여러 매체에 기고해 왔으며 현재도 집필 활동을 이어가고 있다.

@DzirhanDefence 팔로우

Japan confirm‎s sharp rise in airspace interceptions

Japan confirm‎s sharp rise in airspace interceptions

NewsAviation

ByDaisuke Sato

Jan 20, 2026

Modified date: Jan 20, 2026

Japanese F-35 at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, April 26, 2025. (Photo by Scott Swofford)

Key Points

• Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force conducted 79 emergency fighter scrambles in December 2025, more than double the previous month, according to data released by the Joint Staff Office.
• Chinese aircraft accounted for 53 scrambles and Russian aircraft for 23, reflecting increased activity around Japan’s airspace.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported a sharp increase in Air Self-Defense Force emergency fighter scrambles in December 2025, with aircraft launched 79 times to intercept foreign military aircraft approaching Japanese airspace, according to data released by the Joint Staff Office on January 16, 2026.

The total represented an increase of 46 scrambles compared with November and marked the highest monthly figure recorded in the second half of the year, the ministry said. The data covers the period through December 31, 2025, and reflects airspace monitoring operations conducted nationwide.

According to the Joint Staff Office, Chinese military aircraft accounted for 53 of the December scrambles, while Russian aircraft were responsible for 23. An additional three launches were attributed to aircraft categorized as “other,” a designation used when origin is not immediately confirmed. No scrambles were recorded in response to North Korean or Taiwanese aircraft during the month.

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The December figure brought the total number of scrambles for the 2025 calendar year to 448, continuing a pattern of elevated air activity near Japan that has been observed throughout the year. The monthly data shows that scramble activity peaked twice in the final quarter, with 71 launches in October and 79 in December, following a brief dip in November.

Regionally, most of the December scrambles occurred in Japan’s southwestern airspace, which recorded 54 launches, according to the ministry’s breakdown. Northern airspace accounted for six scrambles, western airspace for 11, and central airspace for eight. The southwestern region, which includes approaches near Okinawa and the East China Sea, has consistently recorded the highest activity throughout 2025.

As noted by the Joint Staff Office, the majority of Chinese aircraft activity continued to originate from the East China Sea and the western Pacific, including flights that transited between Taiwan and Japan’s southwestern islands. Russian aircraft activity was primarily observed near northern Japan and the Sea of Japan, consistent with previous years’ patterns.

Japan’s emergency scrambles are conducted when foreign military aircraft approach its airspace without prior notification or when their flight paths raise concerns about airspace security. The missions typically involve F-15 or F-35 fighters identifying the aircraft visually and escorting them away from Japan’s airspace. No airspace violations were reported in December, the ministry said.

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that scramble figures reflect operational responses and not hostile actions. Still, officials noted that the sustained tempo places a continuous burden on personnel, aircraft, and maintenance cycles across the Air Self-Defense Force.

Japan Reports 14% Decrease in Fighter Scrambles to Shadow Chinese, Russian Forces Over Last 9 Months - USNI News

Japan Reports 14% Decrease in Fighter Scrambles to Shadow Chinese, Russian Forces Over Last 9 Months

Dzirhan Mahadzir

January 20, 2026 4:49 PM

A Russian Tu-95 bomber and a Chinese J-16 spotted flying between Okinawa and Miyako Island Dec. 9, 2025. Japan’s Joint Staff Office photo

Japan fighter aircraft were scrambled 448 times in the last nine months – a 14 percent decrease from the same timeframe last year – in response to Chinese and Russian aircraft, Japan’s Joint Staff Office reported Friday.

From April 1 to Dec. 31, 2025, Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets 448 times to shadow aircraft that approached and entered its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The documented scrambles marked a decrease of 73 instances compared to 521 scrambles in 2024 during the same timeframe, according to the Japan Joint Staff Office.

Japan routinely scrambles its fighters to intercept and shadow Chinese and Russian aircraft in its ADIZ on the basis of national security. ADIZs are areas over land and water where transient aircraft can be tracked and identified on the basis of the monitoring country’s national security.

Figures released by the JSO show that as of Dec. 31, 2025, 304 scrambles – or 68 percent – were to shadow Chinese aircraft scrambles to shadow or intercept Russian aircraft make up 29 percent – or 130 instances. Additionally, one scramble was to shadow Taiwanese aircraft, and 13 were against other countries, which total a combined three percent. Japan did not release additional details on scrambles under the “others” category.

In comparison, during the same period in 2024, Japan conducted 345 scrambles to shadow or intercept Chinese aircraft, totaling 66 percent of fighter scrambles. Another 173 scrambles – or 33 percent – were in response to Russian aircraft. There were no scrambles in response to Taiwanese aircraft, but there were three in response to aircraft from unspecified countries.

A map issued with the report shows almost all Chinese flights took place around Japan’s southwest islands with a large number passing between Okinawa and Miyako Island or between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan. Meanwhile, the majority of Russian flights were north and west of the main island of Hokkaido and west of the northern and central part of the main island of Honshu. Joint flights with both Chinese and Russian aircraft spanned the southwest region.

A map of Chinese and Russian aircraft flight paths tracked by Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force from Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2025. Japan Joint Staff Office map

The data reflects an overall 14 percent decrease in fighter scrambles, as well as an 11 percent decrease and nearly a 25 percent decrease in scrambles in response to Chinese and Russian aircraft, respectively.

Despite the overall decrease in scrambles, Japan documented 35 instances of notable and unusual flight activity, of which 12 occurred from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. The Joint Staff Office does not define unusual flight activity, but it typically includes activity not encountered regularly or significant activity due to the aircraft involved or its flight pattern. Japan releases information on the flights it deems to be of interest to the Japanese public.

The most recent instances of notable and unusual flight activity include: flights by Russian Tu-95 bombers and fighter jets in the Sea ofJapan, 260 sorties of embarked fighter aircraft and helicopters from People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning (16), long-distance joint flights by Chinese H-6 bombers and Russian Tu-95 bombers and transits between Okinawa and Miyako Island by Chinese H-6 bombers and fighter jets. Additionally, on Dec. 6, a J-15 fighter jet taking off from Liaoning intermittently illuminated radar on a JASDF F-15 fighter jet that was conducting airspace violation measures against the J-15.

Four of the latest instances spanned Dec. 6-12 and included PLAN J-15 fighters taking off from Liaoning.

Another three entries covered Russian IL-20 Electronic Intelligence aircraft flights, of which one flew over the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk on Oct. 10. The second of the three instances covered the Oct. 25 flight over the Sea of Japan, and a third on Oct. 29 that saw the Russian aircraft make a round trip from the Sea of Japan to the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, on Oct. 24, two Russian TU-95 bombers escorted by two SU-35 fighters flew over the Sea of Japan.

Later, on Dec. 9, there was a joint bomber flight between two Russian Tu-95 bombers and two Chinese H-6 bombers from the East China Sea to the coast of the main island of Shikoku. That same day eight Chinese J-16 fighters, two Russian Su-30 fighters and a Russian A-50 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) operated around Japan.

Two entries were for suspected Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) on Nov. 15 and Nov. 24. In both cases a single suspected Chinese drone flew in from the East China Sea, passed over the waters between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan to enter the Philippine Sea and conducted a circuit flight before returning back to the East China Sea via the same route.

The latest reported instance was Dec. 29, the same day the PLA began its “Justice Mission 2025” drills against Taiwan. Two Chinese H-6 bombers, two Y-9 Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) aircraft, two J-16 fighters and two presumed Chinese fighter aircraft arrived from the East China Sea, passed between Okinawa and Miyako Island to enter the Philippine Sea and later turned back, passing between Okinawa and Miyako Island to enter the East China Sea.

Dzirhan Mahadzir

Dzirhan Mahadzir is a freelance defense journalist and analyst based in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Among the publications he has written for and currently writes for since 1998 includes Defence Review Asia, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Navy International, International Defence Review, Asian Defence Journal, Defence Helicopter, Asian Military Review and the Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter.

Follow @DzirhanDefence

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