Media: Tokyo intends for the first time to equip their combat aircraft with missiles “air-land”
According to experts, equipping the F-35 missiles of this class will mean a serious adjustment previous policy of Japan.
TOKYO, June 26. /TASS/. The government of Japan intends to equip procured for the air force multi-role combat aircraft of the fifth generation F-35 missile of class “air – earth” that could potentially be used for attacks on targets abroad, particularly in Korea. As reported on Monday, the newspaper Yomiuri, the funds for this project will be allocated in the state budget for the 2018 fiscal year.
The government of Japan plans to purchase 42 F-35 aircraft, which are designed using the technology of “stealth” the American Corporation Lockheed Martin Aeronautics with the participation of several NATO countries and other close U.S. allies. In the Japanese air force, these machines will start to arrive in the spring of next year — primarily on air force base at Misawa in the far North of the main island of the country of Honshu.
According to experts, equipping the F-35 missiles “air – land” will mean a serious adjustment of previous Japanese policy. Previously it was assumed that the military potential of the country has a strictly defensive character, he doesn’t need weapons with offensive.
But now, according to the newspaper, Tokyo intends to abandon such restrictions. As the most preferred option for equipping the F-35 is seen being developed in Norway specifically for this aircraft, the missile Joint Strike Missile (JSM). Its range is 300 km.
Officially, it is reported that these missiles will be procured for the defense of remote Japanese Islands in the first place in the East China sea.