picture of the day

Flare-up

27 Comments

A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) P-3C patrol aircraft launches flares during a naval fleet review at Sagami Bay, off Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, on Sunday.

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27 Comments
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AIr Power? Those are only flares. However, cool picture, though!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

US, Australian and Singapore Navy warfships also participated.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Great picture!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Counter measures- they are launched if a missile is fired at the airplane. Yeah not really air powere. The caption even says its a patrol craft. Maybe the caption should be "patrol power"

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Just like BF3! Any BF3 players on JT? w

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Just like BF3! Any BF3 players on JT? w:

i am one

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

They need to include this in the next hanabi.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

chinpiraOct. 15, 2012 - 09:32AM JST

Just like BF3! Any BF3 players on JT? w

I don't remember there being air cargo in BF3.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@The_True

yes, haven't popped it in a while,

those flares are not cheap!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Carpet bomb!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

time japan to show to china that japan is deserved the master of japan in war . but going to vietnam to get second opinion for war to china , vietnam experienced so much how china is idiot in real battle , china is kind of dump at real war is another word that vietnam use for china , lol

3 ( +3 / -0 )

basroilOct. 15, 2012 - 10:11AM JST

"I don't remember there being air cargo in BF3."

Not cargo but in "Armored Fury" expansion there is a similar plane which shoots out flares in exactly the same manner.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

During this event the P3C also dropped some bombs designed to target subs.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

chinpiraOct. 15, 2012 - 11:27AM JST

Not cargo but in "Armored Fury" expansion there is a similar plane which shoots out flares in exactly the same manner.

Think you mean "Armored Kill", and a AC130 is quite different than a P-3C, though both made by Lockheed Martin at about the same time. As with other large airplanes, they can display Angel Flares like in this photo. There are better angles for angel flares though, usually from the front or back.

Japan currently has 101 of these, as well as another half dozen modified models. They are usually meant for anti-ship,anti-submarine warfare rather than actual cargo, but knowing China's lack of subs it's mostly anti-ship and patrol.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@basroil

To be fair Japan introduced the large amount of P-3C to counter the Russians during the height of the cold war. JMSDF were responsible to check all Russian subs on this side of the Pacific. Now JMSDF is renewing their role to include PLAN subs as well.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@basroil

Glad to see somebody knows what they're talking about. Those Chinese subs might as well stay home unless their plan is make the opposing force run out of torpedoes, etc sinking them. No match for Japan's subs, let alone US subs. No doubt there's one or more nearby the Senkakus right now watching everything. They won't do anything else unless things go hot.

Regards the definition of air power, although maritime surveilance aircraft can be rightfully viewed as an extension of seapower, I think if it flies, it's proof the opposing force does not rule the skies.

My own view is that if military action takes place, it will be localised, as it was in the Falklands. Neither Britain or Argentina were stupid enough to attack each other outright. Besides the cost in money and lives, the political fallout would have been too big to bear thinking. I have no doubt that neither Japan or China really want to start an full scale war. The US would get involved, anybody who thinks differently is kidding themselves. The government may act neutral but I'm sure plans are being laid for all contingencies.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

do flares even work as counter measures in this day and age?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Flare down?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The flares have their uses and they and the aircraft can be used in rescue operations. The Maritime Self Defense has multiple missions.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ReformedBasherOct. 15, 2012 - 02:39PM JST

My own view is that if military action takes place, it will be localised, as it was in the Falklands. Neither Britain or Argentina were stupid enough to attack each other outright. Besides the cost in money and lives, the political fallout would have been too big to bear thinking. I have no doubt that neither Japan or China really want to start an full scale war. The US would get involved, anybody who thinks differently is kidding themselves. The government may act neutral but I'm sure plans are being laid for all contingencies.

They did attack, both sides lost ships and men, especially the severely under-armed Argentinians.

cwhiteOct. 15, 2012 - 05:01PM JST

do flares even work as counter measures in this day and age?

Of course they do. Not as well as they used to, but still good enough to justify the cost, especially with the Chinese anti-aircraft missiles they borrowed from 1980s russia. Chaff also works, though the best use is actually offensive rather than defensive (chaff bombs at a power station can cause massive damage).

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Basroil:

" They did attack, both sides lost ships and men, especially the severely under-armed Argentinians. "

The point that "reformed basher" made is that they only fought on and around the disputed islands, and on in the UK or Argentina proper. And of course he is right.

If the Chinese invade the Sentakus and are then driven out by the Japanese in a replay of the Falklands war, the only suffering native population will be a few thousand resident goats. I think we can live with that.

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WilliBOct. 15, 2012 - 06:55PM JST

If the Chinese invade the Sentakus and are then driven out by the Japanese in a replay of the Falklands war, the only suffering native population will be a few thousand resident goats. I think we can live with that.

They wouldn't stop there though, they would certainly strike other islands soon after (unless the US and Japan then got serious and sent them back to the stone age)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

basroil have nothing against the vast majority of Chinese people. Do not like the communist government and their thugs. Writing things like (sent them to the stone age) is not helpful. The "peoples republic" is run by a small elite of self serving communists and new ultra rich. It is my hope the Chinese people can get a new peaceful government.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

dodging heat seeking missiles

0 ( +0 / -0 )

YuriOtaniOct. 15, 2012 - 08:06PM JST

basroil have nothing against the vast majority of Chinese people. Do not like the communist government and their thugs. Writing things like (sent them to the stone age) is not helpful. The "peoples republic" is run by a small elite of self serving communists and new ultra rich. It is my hope the Chinese people can get a new peaceful government.

You missed the entire point with overanalysis and trying to attack me at every chance. The reference is to their military might, not attacking citizen populations.

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basroil my friend you misunderstand my comment. It was not an attack on you, actually the reverse. The thing is anything can be used for good or bad. While this aircraft can attack, it can also find a foundering ship and provide assistance. About the politicians think all of them or most of them never left the stone age. Just like the beginning scene of 2001 a space odyssey. Both sides are jumping up and down trying to force the other to back down.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I thought planes arriving and departing from messed up places like Iraq only used flares like this to avoid ground to surface heat seeking missiles?? I guess I was proved wrong by Safety Japan??

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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