The Japanese Ministry of Defense has begun carrying out research into development of unmanned combat aircraft that will serve as a complement to the F-X fighter currently in development. Nikkei… Continue reading "Japan Commences Development Program For Fighter Loyal Wingmen"
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force announced today that the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron has officially moved to Misawa Air Base, adopting the F-35A as its new aircraft. The 301st is… Continue reading "The JASDF 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron Adopts The F-35A"
The last F-4 Phantom ever made, F-4EJ Kai 17-8440, better known as “440” or “Shishimaru” to planespotters, flew for the final time on Tuesday, departing Hyakuri Air Base for Hamamatsu… Continue reading "The Final Phantom’s Final Flight"
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron held a send-off event today for the squadron’s F-4EJ Kai Phantom IIs, commemorating the end of 48 years of service with… Continue reading "Send-off For the JASDF 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron’s Phantom IIs"
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"
Japan’s Minister of Defence Nobuo Kishi announced at a press conference on 30 October, that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has been formally awarded a contract for the development of the successor… Continue reading "Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Officially Contracted To Build F-2 Successor"
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s plans to upgrade its F-15J fleet faces the possibility of significant delays, following the discovery that setup costs for the upgrade work are significantly higher… Continue reading "Skyrocketing Setup Costs Likely To Delay Japan’s Super Interceptor Upgrades"
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 9 March, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s 501st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron flew its final training sortie in their RF-4E and RF-4EJ Phantom IIs. The sortie was flown from the… Continue reading "Farewell Japanese Photo Phantoms"