"Unprofessional & Unacceptable": Chinese J-10 Fighter Jet Drops Flares On Australian Navy Helicopter

“Unprofessional & Unacceptable”: Chinese J-10 Fighter Jet Drops Flares On Australian Navy Helicopter

• China’s fighter jet dropping flares near an Australian helicopter is condemned as unsafe and unprofessional by Australia.
• The incident in international waters raises concerns over Chinese military tactics, with similar incidents involving other nations.
• US and allies, including Australia, are ramping up air capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region in response to Chinese intimidation tactics.

Australia has condemned the actions of a Chinese fighter jet after it intentionally dropped flares in front of an Australian helicopter. The incident happened on Saturday evening off the coast of South Korea, with the helicopter forced to conduct evasive maneuvers to avoid hitting the flares.

Chinese jet drops flares on Australian Navy chopper

According to a Reuters report, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force Chengdu J-10 fighter jet intercepted an Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter over the Yellow Sea before dropping flares in its flight path from above. After launching from the destroyer HMAS Hobart, the helicopter was performing a routine flight over the Yellow Sea as part of Operation Argos, which enforces UN sanctions on North Korea by policing illegal shipping activity.

As per an Australian Defense Department statement,

“During these activities, a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter launched from HMAS Hobart was intercepted by a PLA-AF fighter aircraft. The PLA-AF aircraft released flares across the flight path of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) helicopter. This was an unsafe maneuver which posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel.”

At around 19:30 AEST, the Chinese jet reportedly released the flares into the flight path of the Seahawk, dropping them from around 60 meters above and 300 meters in front of the chopper. Defense Minister Richard Marles said that the pilot of the helicopter was forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting the flares. Marles told 9News,

“When you consider the speed at which fighter planes and helicopters move, the reaction time is measured in a couple of seconds, and the consequences of the flare actually making contact could have been deeply significant, potentially putting lives at risk.”

The evasive maneuvers ensured there were no injuries or damage to the aircraft sustained. However, things could have been a lot worse had the pilot not reacted in time.

“Unsafe and unprofessional”

The Australian government has formally approached Chinese authorities with its concerns, and this is not the first incident in international waters involving the two nations. Back in November, several Australian Navy divers were injured after a Chinese vessel let off sonar pulses, with Chinese authorities placing the blame on Australia. China’s air force has also engaged in such tactics, including making shows of force while intercepting other military aircraft.

In March, United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink spoke out against China’s intimidation tactics in contested maritime territories. Chinese ships have often engaged in hostile behaviors without progressing into direct aggression, such as sideswiping or hosing down other vessels, as the country seeks to cement its presence. The US and its allies have been steadily increasing their air capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region in response.

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