China’s military sent reconnaissance drones and a surveillance aircraft toward the Pacific as U.S. and Japanese forces began the Keen Sword 27 exercises, and Japan scrambled fighter jets to monitor them.
According to Business Insider Africa, citing Japan’s Ministry of Defence, the Chinese aircraft included a BZK-005 reconnaissance drone, a Y-9 intelligence-gathering plane and a TB-001 surveillance and attack drone.
The flights passed through international airspace between Japanese islands, in waters close to Taiwan.
Analysts say monitoring these waters lets Beijing collect information on allied aircraft movements, operating patterns and equipment deployments.
In North Africa, the Africa Defense Forum reported that Russia is expanding its military presence at six Libyan air bases: Jufra, Al-Khadim, Ghardabiya, Brak Al-Shati, Maaten Al-Sarra and Tamanhint.
The forum cited data from the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Tearline project.
It said MiG-29 fighter jets, drones and air-defense systems had been observed at the bases, along with Russian personnel.
Satellite imagery has shown construction or renovation at the bases since April 2024.
Security researcher Frank Talbot has described Maaten Al-Sarra, near Libya’s borders with Chad and Sudan, as a potential strategic hub for Russian operations in the Sahel.
The governments involved had not publicly responded to the reports at the time of writing.
Sources: Military Watch Magazine; Africa Defense Forum; Misbar; Business Insider Africa.
Administrator and Writer
