The Japanese air force is getting ready for a war with China.
Acquiring stealth fighters, buying up air-to-air missiles in large quantities and now sending its best planes and pilots to Guam for realistic training, the air arm – one of the biggest and most sophisticated in the Pacific region – isn’t taking any chances as it prepares to clash with a much bigger Chinese air force.
The recent Japan Air Self-Defence Force deployment to Guam for exercise Cope North, involving 250 airmen, six Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters, one Boeing KC-46 aerial tanker and two Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye radar planes, is a first for the JASDF – and a sign of the Japanese air arm’s determination to align its training and doctrine with the US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force, both of which also sent F-35s to the war game.
The Japanese air force is getting ready for a war with China.
Acquiring stealth fighters, buying up air-to-air missiles in large quantities and now sending its best planes and pilots to Guam for realistic training, the air arm – one of the biggest and most sophisticated in the Pacific region – isn’t taking any chances as it prepares to clash with a much bigger Chinese air force.
The recent Japan Air Self-Defence Force deployment to Guam for exercise Cope North, involving 250 airmen, six Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters, one Boeing KC-46 aerial tanker and two Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye radar planes, is a first for the JASDF – and a sign of the Japanese air arm’s determination to align its training and doctrine with the US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force, both of which also sent F-35s to the war game.