The eleventh Joint Strategic Patrol announced by Russia and China saw Tu-95s, Tu-142s and H-6s escorted by Su-30SMs, Su-35s and J-16s in a six hour flight over the Sea of Japan and East China Sea.
China and Russia conducted their 11th Joint Strategic Patrol in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea (ECS) on Jun. 27, 2026, consisting of a massive formation of at least 15 aircraft. As the footage released by the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) showed, the aircraft were also intercepted and escorted by U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15J Eagles.
The official video released by the Chinese military showed among the aircraft involved the YY-20A/YU-20A refueling aircraft; a KJ-500 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft; a Y-9Z and a Y-9G Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft; three J-11 and two J-10C fighters. The J-11s, J-10Cs, the KJ-500 and the Y-9 however were not seen in the in-flight footage released by either country or the tracks and images released by the Japanese MoD, but they were only seen taxing, taking off and landing.
— China Military Bugle (@ChinaMilBugle) June 27, 2026
However, the Chinese in-flight video did show the Y-20A simultaneously refueling two J-16s. Aircraft seen in the in-flight footage from Russian and Chinese aircraft and the Japanese images, beside the J-16s and the Y-20, also included H-6K and Tu-95MS strategic bombers; an Il-78M refueling tanker; Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft; Su-30SMs; and a Su-35.
Chinese and Russian air forces conducted their 11th joint strategic aerial patrol on Saturday over the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea and the western Pacific, China’s Ministry of National Defense said in an online release. #China #Russia https://t.co/d1kSGwWLrN pic.twitter.com/QvN6H5j2hN
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) June 27, 2026
Japanese and South Korean military statements
The Japanese MoD put the total of the aircraft in the formation at 15, counting four H-6s, six J-16s, two Tu-95s, two Tu-142s and one Su-30. The statement explained how the various Chinese and Russian aircraft joined the formation on Jun. 27:
“On June 27 (Saturday), from morning to afternoon, we confirmed that two Chinese bombers (H-6) that had advanced from the East China Sea to the Sea of Japan joined up with two Russian bombers (Tu-95) and two Russian patrol aircraft (Tu-142) in the Sea of Japan, after which they conducted joint flight operations as far as the East China Sea. We confirmed that during this joint flight of the bombers, two Chinese fighter aircraft (J-16) and one Russian fighter aircraft (Su-30) were also flying.”
６月２７日（土）午前から午後にかけて、東シナ海から日本海に進出した中国の爆撃機（Ｈ－６）×２機が、日本海においてロシアの爆撃機（Ｔｕ－９５）×２機及びロシアの哨戒機（Ｔｕ－１４２）×２機と合流した後、東シナ海ま… pic.twitter.com/tgDIkApgHg
— 防衛省統合幕僚監部 (@jointstaffpa) June 27, 2026
“Furthermore, on the same day in the afternoon, two Chinese bombers (H-6) newly arriving from the direction of the continent joined up with two Russian bombers (Tu-95), and we confirmed that they conducted joint flight operations over a long distance from the East China Sea to the Pacific off the coast of Shikoku. We confirmed that during this joint flight of the bombers, two Russian patrol aircraft (Tu-142) and four Chinese fighter aircraft (J-16) were also flying.
In response to these, we scrambled fighter aircraft from the Western Air Defense Force of the Air Self-Defense Force and other units to intercept.”
6月27日、中国空軍🇨🇳及びロシア空軍🇷🇺は第11次連合空軍戦略巡航を日本海,東シナ海,西太平洋上空で実施した。
中国側からはH-6K爆撃機の他、YY-20A空中給油機、KJ-500早期警戒管制機、Y-9G電子戦機、J-10,J-11,J-16戦闘機等が確認される。 pic.twitter.com/I3fmngStdm
— miki＠横鎮/C108二日目東ノ-40b (@09120309) June 27, 2026
The track released by the MoD showed the Chinese and Russian aircraft joining up in the waters between Japan and South Korea, proceeding southwards to Japan’s southern Okinawa Prefecture, and turning east into the western Pacific. The formation then turned north, staying west of the Miyazaki prefecture, before retracing its steps, with the bombers heading back to their respective bases in Russia and China.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) similarly said they had detected the Russo-Chinese formation “before [it] briefly entered and left” Seoul’s Air-Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) “above the country’s eastern and southern waters,” according to The Korea Times. The JCS put the figure at 10 aircraft and added that it “dispatched Air Force fighter jets to prepare for any possible contingencies.”
Chinese and Russian MoD releases
One Chinese military aviation tracker account said two of the PLA Air Force H-6s were an H-6KG (tail 10193) from the Southern Theater Command (STC), and an H-6J (20815) from the Eastern Theater Command (ETC). The Russian Ministry of Defense identified its own aircraft as Su-30SM, Su-35S, Tu-95MS, and the Chinese as H-6K and J-16, adding that the Sukhois and the J-16s “provided fighter cover along the route” and the patrol’s duration was six hours.
— Massimo Frantarelli (@MrFrantarelli) June 27, 2026
The Russian MoD’s footage showed a Su-30SM taking off with two R-73 short-range AAMs, as well as cockpit footage from the rear seat showing both the Su-30SMs. A video taken from the cockpit of the Tu-142 and/or Tu-95 showed each of the Tupolevs, as well as a Su-35 on its starboard (left) side, the aerial refueling and a H-6 bomber.
The video also showed two U.S. Air Force F-35As, although their scramble was not mentioned in the statements from Japan and South Korea. The aircraft had the ‘HL’ tail flash of Hill AFB, which might identify them as some of the F-35s that were recently transferred to Misawa’s 35 Fighter Wing in Japan. Additionally, the video also shows the two Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15Js.
The Russian MoD mentioned the Sea of Japan, East China Sea (ECS) and the western Pacific as the area of operation, adding that “the strategic bombers were escorted by fighter jets from foreign countries […] at certain points along the route.” It additionally noted that the “event was held as part of the military cooperation plan for 2026,” reflecting their continued cooperation with China.
Russia and China have been holding Joint Strategic Patrols since 2019 and the drills take place not more than twice each year. Russian military aviation analyst Guy Plopsky recorded only 2022, 2023 and 2024 seeing two such events.
The latest patrol, the 11th, comes amid the ongoing exercise Valiant Shield in the western Pacific with the U.S., Japan and Australia and the Philippines, which China has warned might lead to unintended escalations. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) said the patrol “demonstrated their determination and ability to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.”
While Russian aircraft teasing NATO and NORAD airspace is a common occurrence, it must be noted that the RuAF and PLAAF also independently send provocative overflights around Japan.
