JASDF

Japan’s first Global Hawk arrives at Misawa Air Base

Northrop Grumman announced on March 14 that it had successfully ferried the first of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s three RQ-4B Global Hawk HALE UAVs to Misawa Air Base in Japan

Japanese military pilots to be trained in Italy

In addition to Qatar and Germany, Japan has now agreed to send its military pilots to the Italian Air Force’s and Leonardo’s International Flight Training School (IFTS) for operational training

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Japanese KC-46A completes first refuelling sortie

The initial Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force successfully refuelled another aircraft in-flight for the first time during a test sortie over Washington state on July 20

Final Sayonara for Japanese Phantoms

After retiring the last operational F-4EJ Phantoms from service, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has now also completed the withdrawal of the remaining examples of the type

First KC-46A tanker for Japan takes flight

The first of four Boeing KC-46A tankers for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force completed its maiden flight from the company’s production facility in Everett, Washington, on February 8

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Japan contracts Kongsberg for more Joint Strike Missiles

Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace revealed on December 1 that it has signed a follow-on contract to supply more Joint Strike Missiles (JSMs) for Japan’s Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fleet

Boeing to build two more KC-46As for Japan

The USAF contracted Boeing to build and deliver an additional two KC-46A Pegasus tanker/transports for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on October 29

Boeing partner with MHI on Japanese F-15J upgrades

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Boeing recently signed a direct commercial sale agreement to support upgrades to Japan’s F-15J multi-role fighter fleet.

US approves Japan’s $23bn F-35 purchase

The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 105 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters to Japan.

Textron delivers first two U-680As to JASDF

Textron Aviation has delivered the first two of three Cessna U-680A Citation Sovereigns to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).