Japan's aging Air Self-Defense Force plans major overhaul

Yes, aging Japan needs MAJOR overhaul that should include The JASDF also.

Warplanes bearing the bright red Rising Sun logo roared overhead Sunday as Japan held a once-every-three-years >display to showcase one of the best air

No they are not "logos". They are "insignia".

What a waste of money. The main threat to is not a military one from China or North Korea, but nature. Warplanes, which are probably called defence planes by Japanese politicians, offer no protection against nature.

The purpose of by new planes is to line pockets.

The purpose of by new planes is to line pockets.

Now you are an expert Japan's sovereignty and territorial disputes? This is an excellent and is long overdue. Japan needs to stay current, relevant and in the game if it is to protect its borders against China and Russia and wants to air superiority in Asia. At least, it would be a start.

The F 35 Stealths would be just fine.

The main threat to is not a military one from China or North Korea, but nature.

I'd agree with that much of what you said. And to that end, I'd rather see money spent on cargo helicopters than stealth jets. Jet helicopters as well are handy in emergencies of all sorts.

@Taj

This is true too. All around Japan needs to seriously upgrade their fleet in all areas, but yes, jet helicopters are badly needed, let's hope they can think about that as well as fit it into their budget.

Money, well stop giving it away to the undeserving. No more money to China. They are not our friends.

gaujintraveller:

" What a waste of money. The main threat to is not a military one from China or North Korea, but nature. "

No, "nature" does not have territorial disputes with Japan, and nature does not have growing military forces to exert pressure.

Until the day when all governments in the region and elsewhere totally disarm, you should save the radical pacifist slogans.

F/A 18's are awesome !!!!!!!

gaijintraveller you are obviously a regional security expert well grounded in geopolitical reality. Your observation displays and intuitive grasp of the irrational/delusional. Obviously China and North Korea do not factor in your equation. Why aren't you in a government position rather than being just a "gaijin traveler?" That way you can have a real influence rather than posting pre-adolescent drivel.

entire F-15 fleet was ordered into its hangers for safety checks following a midair accident, the second such order in three months.

"The squeaking wheel doesn't always get the grease. Sometimes it gets replaced." go ahead and sacrifice social security.

Aging tin cans

End of free lunch national security. The future of Japan, of next generation Japanese, in fact of the entire free world depends on an earnest, selfless collaboration among USA, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia and other Asean, and India. Prime Minister Noda---a statesman.

I think it will be great for Japan and the region, minus China, for Japan to upgrade it's fleet of fighters/interceptors. I wonder what's taking so long for the pro China bleeding hearts to cry foul?

It's very good for MIC business. Japan needs to spend much more in military equipment to prop the rather slow season of sales, Pentagon must be facing budget cuts to throw in much less cash into MIC, it's Japan's friendly obligation to assist. The House of Saud has done their contribution!

Read it again, Marcelito. The US is cutting back on the F-22 (which Japan can't have). The F-35 orders are still being submitted.

Buy new expensive planes at tax payer's expense. Fly said planes through radioactive fallout airs of Japan. Planes become radioactive scrap. Burn said scrap sending ashes across Northern Hemisphere.

Solid plan! Good thinking Japan.

China will implode and fall apart, so it is basically to counter Russian superiority.

Do a little research and the F-35 program is under scrutiny and may be scaled back or as Defence secretary Gates has publicly said several times he is in favor of cutting it's funding. The F-18 Superhornet will get the nod, as an interim aircraft until the F-35s future becomes clear! The F-22 is out of bounds. It will be an American aircraft, that's a no brainer. Would be cheeper and more bang for bucks to get current Russian models and upgrade them with Western avionics, radar and other such upgrades...never happen I know.

it is seen as a rival to the F-22 and far superior to what Japan now has..........................And the gap is getting wider and wider, after the 311 Tsunami, Japan is having a very hard time to replace their aging planes,those F15J will fall apart after flying more than 30 years!

Like the Korean peninsula being a battlefield of the east and east wrestling arena, the skies of japan will doomed the same in the coming future! But the japanese armed forces were definately has' no say' at all! the 311 Tsunami has further crippled Japan's rearment attempt !

marcelito, everybody spends money to upgrade its fleet or other weapons to defend himself. Japan is special? or needs no self defense? or NK and China are no threats?

No more money to China. They are not our friends.

and when in history has japan ever been a friend to china? NEVER.

China will implode and fall apart, so it is basically to counter Russian superiority.

japan will fall apart due to their own stupidity. and i will look forward to it.

china needs to keep her military strong against the US and their japanese lapdoggys.

Scramble orders were issued 386 times last year—up nearly 25%..........................Obviously the japanese SDF were paranoid to neighbouring countries due to Japan's unlawful claims of sea and air to others, they shouldnt blame those 'consequences'!

Aren't the F/A-18 outdated? The US should put the F-22 for sale.

japan should be pushing its robotics expertise into unmanned fighters. small stealthy unmanned interceptors.

It's too bad the Japanese government has no money for this. They'll have to borrow it.

Don't trust these politicians of the DPJ.

mw775 and WilliB, I assume you are from the US. The greatest threat to world peace is your country. Yours is the country with the largest military. Yours is the country that sells the most weapons of death and destruction around the world. Your country has been guilty of many instances of terrorism. You created the Taliban when they served your purpose. Your country keeps threatening North Korea and other countries, which is why they feel they need to defend themselves when your army is on their doorstep. Anyone can become dangerous when forced into a corner.

Think of how effective your weaponry was against the Viet Cong in Vietnam. I seem to remember you lost that war against an army with much less sophisticated weaponry. Look at how efficient such weapons have been in Afghanistan.

Japan has one of the largest militaries in the world and they are already very well equipped. There is no need to enlarge it unless, of course, Japan intends to use it to attack another country, which seems unlikely at the moment.

By the way, thank you for calling me a pacifist. It is an honour to be called a pacifist by warmongering Americans.

gaijintraveller - The Japanese aren't looking to enlarge their military so much as modernizing it.

Your anti-U.S. rant was funny - thanks!

China isn't half as obnoxious as their ubiquitous internet supporters,

386 airspace violations! My brother is in the Canadian air force, stationed in BC, and says we have regular airspace violations by the Russians. I am sure the U.S. has the same problem in Alaska.

ssway

Fly said planes through radioactive fallout airs of Japan.

Are you incapable of making a post that doesn't mention radiation?