Japan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

in case you didn't know F-35B Stealth Fighters Make First Appearance on Okinawa
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Two
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Lightning II aircraft landed on Okinawa Monday, the first time the state-of-the-art stealth fighter has visited the strategically important Japanese island.

The jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 arrived at
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
in central Okinawa to become familiar with the airfield, a
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
statement said. The aircraft flew in from
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
on the Japanese mainland, where they are based.

"The F-35B represents the future of Marine Corps tactical aviation," the statement said.

The Marine Corps has said the fighters will be operating out of Okinawa's Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Kadena on a "transient basis."

The fighters arrived in Japan in January with much fanfare. A month later, they were training in the skies around Okinawa; however, this is their first visit to an Okinawa airfield, the statement said.

The F-35B Lightning is a short-takeoff, vertical-landing aircraft meant to replace the
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
,
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
and
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
. Like with most new platforms, the fighter's development was plagued with issues, and at one point President Donald Trump indicated he might scrap the program altogether.

However, the aircraft has endured and is typically seen as a valuable tool in maintaining the status quo in the Pacific region.

As with the Hornet and Harrier before it, the F-35B will operate in designated military airspace and ranges, the statement said.
f-35b-lightning-ii-okinawa-ts600.jpg
An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Kadena Air Base, June 26, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps/ Charles Plouffe)
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Next in line would be the two additional Atagos. After that probably replacements for the Abukuma DE now hotly talked about littoral defense ships.
Yes, the 2nd flight of Atagos. Those are sorely needed...and I knew they were coming.

But I was talking about the larger build (in terms of quantity numbers). Are they the new frigate design? Or the littoral defense ships.

Are those one and the same...or are they different projects?
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Next in line would be the two additional Atagos. After that probably replacements for the Abukuma DE now hotly talked about littoral defense ships.
Yes, the 2nd flight of Atagos. Those are sorely needed...and I knew they were coming.

But I was talking about the larger build (in terms of quantity numbers). Are they the new frigate design? Or the littoral defense ships.

Are those one and the same...or are they different projects?
I have seee sort of LCS about 3000 tons affordable for Japan Navy receive 2 by year with in more a DDG at less all the 2 years i think.
 

SamuraiBlue

Captain
Yes, the 2nd flight of Atagos. Those are sorely needed...and I knew they were coming.

But I was talking about the larger build (in terms of quantity numbers). Are they the new frigate design? Or the littoral defense ships.

Are those one and the same...or are they different projects?
The Abukumas are/were littoral in nature to defend close to shores so I believe the project would be one and the same.
They will probably be some stationed in Okinawa to add more defense in the southern islands will relieving some of the Takanamis/Akizukis from that patrol mission.
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
The Abukumas are/were littoral in nature to defend close to shores so I believe the project would be one and the same.
They will probably be some stationed in Okinawa to add more defense in the southern islands will relieving some of the Takanamis/Akizukis from that patrol mission.

Actually only 2 Minesweepers are homeported to Naha.
 

SamuraiBlue

Captain
Actually only 2 Minesweepers are homeported to Naha.
Yup, but not for long.
There is a JMSDF base on Amami Oshima close to Okinawa and many lawmakers as well as local inhabitants are making request to permanently station some ships there.
At the moment this port is utilized as a final stage area to depart for overseas missions and close to the so called "oil rig"s that PLA placed radar antennas on.
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Yup, but not for long.
There is a JMSDF base on Amami Oshima close to Okinawa and many lawmakers as well as local inhabitants are making request to permanently station some ships there.
At the moment this port is utilized as a final stage area to depart for overseas missions and close to the so called "oil rig"s that PLA placed radar antennas on.

Between Kyushu and Okinawa

Please have your coordinates for Naha military port ? i have all except him.

It is certain now make sense based a Convoy Escort Sqn in this area.
 
Last edited:
Top