US-Japanese exercise was interrupted by Russian aircrafts

08.12.2010 Joint American-Japanese naval exercise in the Sea of Japan was suspended on Monday because of two Russian ASW aircrafts Il-38 approaching the exercise zone, reported Wednesday NHK referring to Japanese defense ministry.

According to the ministry, Aegis-armed warships of Japan Self-Defense Force and US Navy practiced repelling of enemy aerial attack during interception of a ballistic dummy missile on Monday in the Sea of Japan near Noto peninsula (Honshu Island). During these drills two Russian aircrafts Il-38 appeared in the air and were flying over the exercise zone for several hours.

The exercise was suspended because of top-secret data could have been intercepted by Russian aircrafts.

Appearance of foreign aviation during a large-scale military exercise is quite common fact, reports NHK. However, their showing directly over the exercise zone is unprecedented, says Japanese defense ministry.

The ever-largest joint military exercise between the U.S. and Japan has been started on Monday and will last till Dec 10. It is held in the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean near southern Japanese Island of Okinawa.

Japan Self-Defense Force is represented by 34,000 servicemen, 40 warships, and 250 aircrafts. The U.S. delegated 10,000 servicemen, 150 aircrafts, and 20 warships. Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington also takes part in the maneuvers. Thus and so, about 44,000 American and Japanese servicemen, 60 warships, and somewhat 400 aircrafts attend the exercise.