Mitsubishi Heavy unveils first F-35 stealth fighter assembled in Japan
The Air Self-Defense Force plans to deploy the cutting-edge fighter this fiscal 2017 year, which ends next March 31, at the Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture.
The jet features high stealth capabilities and mobility, and is expected to collaborate in surveillance activities with F-35 aircraft operated by U.S. forces.
The F-35 was jointly developed by nine countries, including the United States, Britain and Australia. Lockheed Martin is the main manufacturer.
Japanese companies did not participate in the development, but they have been involved in assembly and other manufacturing processes.
The ASDF plans to buy 42 of the jets. Four will be supplied as finished products under the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program.
Kenji Wakamiya, a senior vice defense minister, said it is important “to acquire F-35 fighters with advanced capabilities” amid increasingly tough security conditions — a move that will strengthen technology in the domestic defense industry.
Mitsubishi Heavy will assemble the remaining 38 planes with components imported from the United States.
The first Japan-assembled unit will be used for flight training for ASDF pilots that will be conducted in the United States.
The F-35A, which has a wingspan of 11 meters and is 16 meters in length, is equipped with advanced sensor equipment that is believed to have missile detection and tracking capabilities.
IHI Corp. produces engine parts for the jets that will be supplied to the ASDF, while Mitsubishi Electric handles production of radar components. Countries that plan to introduce the F-35 have adopted a system to share parts, including those made in Japan.
In 2013, Japan excluded domestically manufactured F-35 parts from its arms export ban, saying that Japanese companies’ participation in the production is indispensable for maintaining fighter jet operation and maintenance bases in the country.
rollin' on dubs
Pentagon: China ups military capabilities, plans base in Pakistan
This would follow the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, setting up its first overseas base at Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, construction of which started in February 2016 and is expected to be completed in 2018. China previously said the base is meant “to help the navy and army further participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations, carry out escort missions in the waters near Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, and provide humanitarian assistance.”
Overseas bases will “better position the PLA to expand its participation in non-combatant evacuation operations, search-and-rescue, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR), and SLOC security," the report added. Although it also warned that China’s ability to build overseas bases “may be constrained by the willingness of countries to support a PLA presence in one of their ports.”
The report also noted that “China’s leaders remain focused on developing the capabilities to deter or defeat adversary power projection and counter third-party intervention,” with the PLA’s modernization program becoming more focused on missions including power projection beyond China’s periphery.
edited 7th Jun '17 10:56:21 AM by TerminusEst
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
I'm morbidly fascinated about how the PLA's COIN operations would fare against experienced and veteran insurgents such as the likes of the Taliban and al-Qaeda, in mountainous terrain no less.
In other news, one of the military history magazines that I subscribe to released a free article regarding Rommel and his changing reputation over time
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Typical COIN in the case of China follows a pretty predictable pattern: invade and beat the conventional elements of the enemy -> turn the region into a surveillance state -> separate the people from the insurgents i.e. make supporting them a bad idea -> eliminate isolated pockets of insurgents and individual agents. With Tibet and Xinjiang there's also massive cultural repression, social engineering, forcible displacement and settling of Han Chinese.
This would be hard without a solid connection to the homeland.
edited 7th Jun '17 11:35:37 AM by TerminusEst
Si Vis Pacem, Para PerkeleCanada is increasing its defense spending by 70% over the next 10 years. Some of it is new spending, other parts have been planned for years.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-sajjan-garneau-defence-policy-1.4149473
Also, no mention of that Super Hornet purchase, sucks for Boeing. And our defense/foreign policy is splitting from Washington to a degree that we haven't seen since the end of WW 2.
Interesting times, etc etc
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.The Chinese are accused the DOD of spreading so-called biases in their reports regarding over the bases.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a26804/wooden-armor-tank-rockets/?src=socialflowTW
The Philippine Army's doing this against RPG-2 and various recoiless rifles used by the Maute Group.
Trump publicly commits to NATO mutual-defense provision
Too little, too late.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
rollin' on dubs
NATO has survived Greece and Turkey shooting at each other over Cyprus, France "leaving", the end of the Cold War and all the Russian bluster.
I tried to walk like an Egyptian and now I need to see a Cairo practor....This guy's got the moves alright
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At least in that one you won't have people regurtitating myths about German armor.
Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.