Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets scrambled 778 times in fiscal 2022 against foreign military aircraft and objects that could have violated Japan's airspace, according to the Defense Ministry. This is 226 fewer scrambles than in the previous fiscal year.
However, in addition to a significant increase in scrambles in response to Chinese unmanned aircraft, scrambles against flying objects such as unmanned reconnaissance balloons from unknown countries and regions were the most ever recorded.
According to the ministry's Joint Staff Office, ASDF fighters scrambled against Chinese manned aircraft 575 times, down by 147 from the previous fiscal year. But while there were four scrambles in response to Chinese unmanned aircraft in fiscal 2021, the figure doubled to eight in fiscal 2022.
