On 12 November, Kongsberg revealed that it had been awarded a follow-on contract to deliver Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) for the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s F-35 fleet worth 450… Continue reading "Japan Awards Kongsberg Follow-On Contract for Joint Strike Missile"
The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced, on September 10th, the down-selection of three contenders for the Next Armored Wheeled Vehicle project. This project aims to replace the Komatsu Type 96… Continue reading "Japanese MoD Downselects GDLS, Patria and Mitsubishi offerings for Type 96 APC Replacement"
It has been, quite frankly, a heck of a year, I think anyone reading this will agree. Obviously, the world-wide pandemic has dominated headlines, with the disease having a major… Continue reading "2020 – The Year’s Defense News In Review"
With the retirement of the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron’s F-4EJ Kai Phantom IIs, the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron became the sole squadron in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force flying the… Continue reading "The Last of the Samurai Phantoms: F-4EJ Kai 436 and the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron in Profile"
Is the US’s position in the Pacific in terminal decline? In the recent months the situation in the East and South China Seas has been very difficult for the US… Continue reading "Pacific Power Play: The Decline of US Dominance In the Pacific"
Initially thought to be new class of landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ship, the new LPX-II has in fact been revealed to be a light aircraft carrier. The LPX-II… Continue reading "South Korea Reveals Plans to Construct its First Aircraft Carrier – the LPX-II"
The Japanese Minister of Defense, Taro Kono, stated on 31 July that the Ministry of Defense was looking into the drafting of a framework agreement for international collaboration for the… Continue reading "Development of F-2 Replacement To Emphasize Freedom Of Modification"
On 28 July, Boeing announced that it had signed a Direct Commercial Sale agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to support the upgrading of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s F-15Js.… Continue reading "Boeing Partners With Mitsubishi Heavy Industries For F-15J Upgrades"
On January 23, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (All Weather) 225 (VMFA (AW)-225) “Vikings” held a Sundown Ceremony at their home base, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, to mark the… Continue reading "Marine Corps VMFA-225 Retires Its Hornets"
On the morning of 10 December, HMS Prince of Wales was commissioned at HM Naval Base Portsmouth. The raising of the White Ensign marked the formal entry into service of… Continue reading "Britain’s Second Carrier HMS Prince of Wales Commissioned"