Japan Air Self Defense Force

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.