Japan is expanding its F-35A stealth fighter force as a response to ongoing Russian military operations near its borders. The country has procured 147 F-35 jets from the U.S., including 105 F-35As and 42 F-35Bs. This fiscal year, seven F-35As will be deployed to Komatsu Air Base, with 29 more scheduled between 2026 and 2029. Komatsu becomes Japan’s second F-35A base after Misawa, reinforcing nationwide air defense coverage. The move follows recent U.S. deployments of F-35s to Japan, highlighting deepening bilateral military cooperation. Original news
Category: Japan
Leonardo Estimates 350 Orders for Global Combat Air Programme by 2035
Leonardo projects 350 aircraft orders for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint initiative between Italy, Japan, and the UK, by 2035. The program, which will introduce the Tempest fighter, has secured €40 billion ($43.7 billion) in development funding from its partner nations. Japan currently operates 39 F-35A/Bs, while Italy and the UK field 31 and 35 F-35 variants, respectively. A joint venture between BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Company will oversee aircraft production across the UK, Italy, and Japan. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) remains focused on developing an F-2 replacement, based on the […]
US and Allies Flex Muscles at West Pacific Military Outpost
The U.S., Australia, and Japan have deployed advanced stealth fighter jets for Cope North 2025, a trilateral military exercise running from February 3 to 21 in Guam. The drills focus on improving interoperability between the nations’ F-35 units and strengthening regional security in the Indo-Pacific. The exercise comes as China unveils its new stealth aircraft, the J-20S and J-35A, heightening regional tensions. U.S. Pacific Air Forces stressed the importance of integrated training to deter potential conflicts. The Pentagon is expected to continue bolstering its military presence in the Western Pacific to counter emerging threats. Original news
S. Korea, US, Japan stage joint air drills involving B-1B bomber after NK missile launches
South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted combined air drills on Wednesday, involving two U.S. B-1B bombers, South Korean F-15K jets, and Japanese F-2 fighter jets, marking their first such exercise of the year. The drills aimed to enhance joint capabilities to deter North Korea’s evolving missile and nuclear threats, including its recent launches of hypersonic and short-range ballistic missiles. North Korea claimed a successful hypersonic missile test on January 6, but South Korea’s military dismissed the claims as deceptive. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command emphasized the exercises as a demonstration of strong trilateral cooperation for an immediate and coordinated response […]
Japan Approves Record $55 Billion Defense Budget to Boost Military Capabilities
Japan’s Cabinet has approved a record 8.7 trillion yen ($55 billion) defense budget for 2025, accelerating its military modernization efforts. Key allocations include 940 billion yen ($6 billion) for a standoff defense system with U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles, long-range capabilities, and satellite constellations. Japan aims to double annual military spending to 10 trillion yen ($63 billion) by 2027, making it the world’s third-largest military spender. The budget funds three Mogami-class multi-purpose destroyers, with hopes Australia will select the model for its Sea 3000 frigate project, and supports Japan’s collaboration with Britain and Italy on a next-generation fighter jet. To address personnel […]
Global Space Advancements Mark 2024 as a Transformative Year
The year 2024 witnessed major progress in space exploration and industry, with multiple nations bolstering their space capabilities. Europe expanded its launch options with the addition of Ariane 6 and Vega-C, while India and Japan achieved multiple successful launches. Oman celebrated its entry into space with the launch of its first suborbital rocket, and China advanced its lunar program with new partnerships and returned lunar samples. The Artemis Accords grew to 51 signatories, emphasizing global collaboration, while the EU’s adoption of the Zero Debris Charter highlighted efforts to address space sustainability. These developments underscore a rapidly growing and increasingly cooperative […]
US, Japan, Australia broaden exercises, set target for live-fire drill
Officials from the US, Japan, and Australia have announced plans to expand their joint military exercises, which will include a new live-fire drill set to take place in 2027. The collaborative efforts were revealed during a meeting at a military base in Darwin, Australia, signaling a deepening of military ties among the three nations. Beginning next year, Japan will dispatch a brigade to train alongside US and Australian forces, with the inaugural joint exercise, Talisman Sabre, scheduled to occur in Queensland in 2025. Following a significant agreement two years ago, which allows Japanese and Australian militaries to access each other’s […]
South-Korea, US, Japan to hold 2nd trilateral Freedom Edge exercise
South Korea, the United States, and Japan have commenced their second trilateral multi-domain exercise, Freedom Edge, demonstrating joint deterrence against North Korean threats. This three-day drill, occurring in international waters near South Korea’s Jeju Island, involves advanced naval and air assets, including the USS George Washington, F-35 stealth fighters, and destroyers from South Korea and Japan. The exercise focuses on areas such as air defense, ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, and cyber defense. The initiative follows agreements from high-level summits to conduct annual multidomain drills to counter evolving threats from North Korea. Amid deepening North Korea-Russia alignment, the […]
New Data Shows a Rapidly Expanding Space Workforce
#analysis The global space industry is expanding rapidly, adding over 26,000 jobs between 2022 and 2023, particularly in countries like the US, Japan, India, and across Europe. This growth is nearly four times larger than the previous year, reflecting a thriving global space economy that has doubled in size over the last decade. In the US, the commercial space workforce increased by 4.8%, marking its seventh consecutive year of growth. Europe saw even faster growth, with countries like the UK growing its space workforce by 19%, and France, Germany, and Italy following closely behind. India and Japan are shifting from […]
Japan, UK and Italy to expedite next-generation fighter jet to replace F-2s and Eurofighter Typhoons
The defense ministers of Japan, the U.K., and Italy have agreed to accelerate the development of a next-generation stealth fighter jet under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), aiming for deployment by 2035. A trilateral organization, GCAP International Government Organization (GIGO), will be established by the end of the year to oversee the aircraft’s development, with involvement from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, BAE Systems, and Leonardo. The fighter jet will replace Japan’s F-2s and Eurofighter Typhoons, enhancing defense capabilities amid growing threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. GIGO will be based in the U.K. and will be led by a […]