Japan Air Self Defense Force

This is the first time that aircraft from the three European countries’ air forces will be deployed to Japan at the same time.

The European nation forms an increasingly important part of Japan's goal of consolidating its security cooperation with like-minded Western nations.

The drill continues a trend of Japan's expanding security links with European powers, while France looks to the Indo-Pacific.

The western Pacific, including Okinawa and Taiwan, is increasingly becoming a new frontier for electronic warfare.

Japan scrambled fighter aircraft 778 times in FY2022, nearly three-quarters of those coming against Chinese planes. 

Tokyo needs to enhance multilateral cooperation with the U.S. and other Western countries in space security, says General Kataoka Haruhiko, a former chief of staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

Japan may choose BAE Systems, not Lockheed Martin, to support Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in developing next-generation fighter aircraft.

It was the second highest number of scrambles in a single year, representing the worsening security environment surrounding Japan.

China’s military buildup, coupled with existing problems associated with imports from the U.S., may make such a move a necessity.

This marks a six percent increase compared with the same period in fiscal year 2018.

Lockheed Martin suspended assembly of the F-35A aircraft at a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries facility in Japan out of concern over the spread of the coronavirus.

Japan has seen a rise in the number of Chinese military aircraft approaching Japanese airspace over the last nine months.

Japan intends to continue to assemble F-35As at a local facility in Nagoya.

From the outside, it may look a lot different than any other country’s fighter. On the inside, it may share crucial components with one or more international partners.

The two Russian bombers and escort aircraft were conducting a 10-hour flight over the Sea of Japan and East China Sea.

The Japanese government has awarded Norway’s Kongsberg a follow-on contract to supply additional Joint Strike Missiles.

The Bushido Guardian 2019 exercise will be held from September 11 to October 8 in Japan.

Two nuclear-capable Tu-95 long-range bombers have violated Japanese airspace on June 20, according to the country’s defense ministry.

For the first time in over a month, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has publicized the interception of a foreign military aircraft.

Aircraft carriers and F-35B stealth fighters: Japan is incrementally building up its offensive maritime capabilities.

Northrop Grumman has announced that it has delivered the first E-2D aircraft to the Japan Air Self Defense Force.

Japanese fighters intercepted two Russian maritime patrol aircraft in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea on May 3.

The latest Japan Air Self-Defense Force intercept took place on March 27 in the Sea of Japan.

Japan is set to extend the range of its domestically designed and produced ASM-3 air-launched anti-ship missile.