F-35A stealth fighter deployed in Japan for 1st time

"respond to airspace incursions"???  do these happen a lot?  By whom?  are they a threat?

Onodera added, "The introduction of the missiles is not aimed at targeting enemy military bases. We rely on U.S. strike capabilities for attacking enemy bases and this will remain unchanged."

Then what for ????

F-35A stealth fighter [...] to respond to airspace incursions and engage in surveillance activity on North Korea.

Yeah, I'm sure North Korea, with its fighters dating from the 60's and running out of fuel are a big source of airspace incursions...

The japanese government is doing all this with China in mind, I tell you !

The Korean War was a proxy war, so...

The Korean War was a proxy war, so...

Ahhh......NO.

Where's the false outrage from people who claim untested and/or unstable military aircraft pose a serious threat to safety in Japan?

If few more F-35A are deployed around Senkaku islands , these will surely stop all violations there too.

Does Japan have any carriers that can handle STO/VL(Short TakeOff/VerticalLanding) like the Harrier Jets?

The F-35 can do a Vertical Takeoff but it comes at a cost, either reduced payload or operational distance halved(full payload).

Current Heli-carriers would mean Vertical Takeoff unless they fit a short ramp.

Damn...couldn't see it! The stealth really works!

Pacint:

The F35-B has VTOL capabilities but costs more than the standard variant.

Unfortunately the current heli-carriers that the SDF deploys like the Izumo, would not be able to support them as their decks are not reinforced or heat proof to sustain the jet blast that they create when operating STOVL. While they could land a few times on the deck, after about 2 repeated take offs the deck would catch fire or melt away!

Not saying in the future this would not be a possibility, however the cost of upgrading the ships to support the F35-B and also purchasing the planes and training the pilots would cost almost as much as a new ship.

"respond to airspace incursions"??? do these happen a lot? By whom? are they a threat?

Yes they happen more and more.

Japan scrambled its fighter jets in response to aircraft approaching its airspace 561 times in the first half of fiscal 2017 through September — 33 fewer than last year’s record-setting figure but still the second-highest total ever for the period, the Defense Ministry has said.

While the Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets last year at a record pace as China’s military sought to break out farther into the western Pacific, incidents involving Chinese aircraft in this year’s first half fell to 287, or 51 percent of the total, down 120 from the previous year.

hopefully they make sure those don't fly over land and we wont need to read about them dropping on innocent citizens

Joyriding.

Thx, as I suspected, oh well more tax-money down the Drain.

The US really has Japan by the shorts that they can't buy from other sources.

It didn't crash!!!

Onodera added, "The introduction of the missiles is not aimed at targeting enemy military bases. We rely on U.S. strike capabilities for attacking enemy bases and this will remain unchanged."

"respond to airspace incursions"??? do these happen a lot? By whom? are they a threat?

Incusrions happen on nearly a daily basis down here in Okinawa around the Senkaku Islands, it's either the Chinese AF, or Navy or Coast Guard ships.

Naha AP is a dual use (JSDF and CIvilian) airport and jets are screaming out of there at all times of the day and sometimes later in the night as well.

No one complains either!

Does Japan have any carriers that can handle STO/VL(Short TakeOff/VerticalLanding) like the Harrier Jets?

Read that Japan is considering refitting the Izumo to handle the F-35B.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-defence-carrier/japan-considers-refitting-helicopter-carrier-for-stealth-fighters-government-sources-idUSKBN1EK0CF

Unfortunately the current heli-carriers that the SDF deploys like the Izumo, would not be able to support them as their decks are not reinforced or heat proof to sustain the jet blast that they create when operating STOVL

The F-35B utilizes a lift-fan which is not as hot as the direct jet exhaust used in the Harrier.

Well, what do you expect? With the chinanese constantly provoking its neighbors?

I wish my country would have stuck with Saab, but they had to go and buy the Eurofighter/Typhoon. grrrrr.

Being phased out now and we are getting new fighters, one prob was the IFF which costs USD500 per flight to be activated by locally stationed US personnel before takeoff.

Lots of probs and headaches with the Eurofighter, doubt we will buy anything US made though. Saab fighters can takeoff and land on normal roads, no tarmac needed.

if it's so stealthy how'd anyone know it was even here?

Quote, Kaerimashita: "respond to airspace incursions"??? do these happen a lot? By whom? are they a threat?"

Surprised no-one has mentioned the Russians who test Japan's defenses regularly, just as they test European defenses. 125 times in 2017, which is partly why they are destined to be up in Misawa.

http://www.atimes.com/article/japan-scrambles-growing-incursions-china-russia-warplanes/

Good news and I hope that Japan’s does it’s utmost with its allies in becoming a strong nation in all departments. One that cannot be bullied or coerced by China, Russia, or NK.

Interesting, only 42 at huge cost as against how many Russian and Chinese combat aircraft?

There have been serious concerns about the real capabilities of these aircraft as against what the companies sales brochure says.

Good. Japan needs a very strong self defense. Very strong.

This is gonna be great!

Dear Japan,

Thanks for supporting the US weapons makers. May these tools never fire any weapon against another human.

Yabaru, the F 35 fighter being stealth is not a defensive weapon. It is an offensive weapon and a knife on the throats of China and Russia.

Where's the false outrage from people who claim untested and/or unstable military aircraft pose a serious threat to safety in Japan?

I was thinking the exact same thing!

hopefully they make sure those don't fly over land and we wont need to read about them dropping on innocent citizens

Oh there it is!

Kick ass jet.

The Russian shortman's complex just got 2 inches shorter. Heh.

The japanese government is doing all this with China in mind, I tell you !

That's fine and they're smart for doing it.

This is not the fighter that Japan wanted, but it'll have to do.

Good news, these beauties should be more than enough to blow any moron who tests Japan out of the sky

Good news, these beauties should be more than enough to blow any moron who tests Japan out of the sky

I aint so confident, but its a lot better than what Japan has now. Lethal drones are really the future.

Good Hunting!!! ASDF. I look forward to the first kill by the ASDF.

So far this plane proved to be a big flying disappointment. USAF is not happy with it:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-24/lockheed-f-35-s-reliability-progress-has-stalled-pentagon-told

Neverheless the US forced this budget destroyer on Japan. Massive waste of taxpayers' money, Japan should cancel this program as Canada already did and develop its own modern fighter.

hopefully they teach the pilots that crashing is restricted to water