China military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighters

China military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighters

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press in Wajima in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on Dec. 7, 2025, after Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets southeast of Okinawa's main island the previous day. (Pool photo)

China military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighters

China military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighters

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets the press in Wajima in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on Dec. 7, 2025, after Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets southeast of Okinawa's main island the previous day. (Pool photo)

China military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighters

China military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighters

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (C) meets the press in Tokyo in the early hours of Dec. 7, 2025, after Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets southeast of Okinawa's main island the previous day.

China military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighters

China military aircraft lock radar onto Japanese fighters

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi meets the press in Tokyo in the early hours of Dec. 7, 2025, after Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets southeast of Okinawa's main island the previous day.

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows part of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force T-4 training aircraft recovered from a large reservoir in Inuyama in the central Japan prefecture of Aichi on Aug. 15, 2025. The jet crashed in mid-May shortly after taking off from the ASDF's Komaki base, also in Aichi Prefecture, killing the two personnel aboard.

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows part of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force T-4 training aircraft recovered from a large reservoir in Inuyama in the central Japan prefecture of Aichi on Aug. 15, 2025. The jet crashed in mid-May shortly after taking off from the ASDF's Komaki base, also in Aichi Prefecture, killing the two personnel aboard.

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows part of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force T-4 training aircraft recovered from a large reservoir in Inuyama in the central Japan prefecture of Aichi on Aug. 15, 2025. The jet crashed in mid-May shortly after taking off from the ASDF's Komaki base, also in Aichi Prefecture, killing the two personnel aboard.

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Part of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force T-4 training aircraft is recovered from a large reservoir in Inuyama in the central Japan prefecture of Aichi on Aug. 15, 2025. The jet crashed in mid-May shortly after taking off from the ASDF's Komaki base, also in Aichi Prefecture, killing the two personnel aboard.

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Part of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force T-4 training aircraft is recovered from a large reservoir in Inuyama in the central Japan prefecture of Aichi on Aug. 15, 2025. The jet crashed in mid-May shortly after taking off from the ASDF's Komaki base, also in Aichi Prefecture, killing the two personnel aboard.

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Part of crashed Japan defense force jet recovered

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows part of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force T-4 training aircraft recovered from a large reservoir in Inuyama in the central Japan prefecture of Aichi on Aug. 15, 2025. The jet crashed in mid-May shortly after taking off from the ASDF's Komaki base, also in Aichi Prefecture, killing the two personnel aboard.

ASDF plane departs for Djibouti

ASDF plane departs for Djibouti

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-2 transport aircraft prepares to take off at Miho Air Base in Sakaiminato in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, on June 21, 2025, heading to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa for a possible evacuation of Japanese nationals from the Middle East.

ASDF plane departs for Djibouti

ASDF plane departs for Djibouti

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-2 transport aircraft takes off at Miho Air Base in Sakaiminato in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, on June 21, 2025, heading to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa for a possible evacuation of Japanese nationals from the Middle East.

ASDF plane departs for Djibouti

ASDF plane departs for Djibouti

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-2 transport aircraft prepares to take off at Miho Air Base in Sakaiminato in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, on June 21, 2025, heading to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa for a possible evacuation of Japanese nationals from the Middle East.

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

INUYAMA, Japan, May 16 Kyodo - Search and rescue operations continue at a large reservoir in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, on May 16, 2025, after a T-4 jet, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force training aircraft, with two personnel aboard crashed there two days earlier. (Kyodo)

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search and rescue operations continue at a large reservoir in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, on May 16, 2025, after a T-4 jet, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force training aircraft, with two personnel aboard crashed there two days earlier.

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search and rescue operations continue at a large reservoir in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, on May 16, 2025, after a T-4 jet, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force training aircraft, with two personnel aboard crashed there two days earlier.

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search and rescue operations continue at a large reservoir in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, on May 16, 2025, after a T-4 jet, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force training aircraft, with two personnel aboard crashed there two days earlier.

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search and rescue operations continue at a large reservoir in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, on May 16, 2025, after a T-4 jet, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force training aircraft, with two personnel aboard crashed there two days earlier.

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search operation after Japan defense force jet's crash

Search and rescue operations continue at a large reservoir in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, on May 16, 2025, after a T-4 jet, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force training aircraft, with two personnel aboard crashed there two days earlier.

SDF trainer jet crashes

SDF trainer jet crashes

Personnel from Japan's Self-Defense Forces are pictured after retrieving objects believed to be debris from an Air Self-Defense Force trainer jet from a reservoir in Inuyama in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on May 15, 2025. The T-4 aircraft crashed the previous day shortly after takeoff from Komaki Air Base, also in the prefecture.

SDF trainer jet crashes

SDF trainer jet crashes

Personnel from Japan's Self-Defense Forces are pictured after retrieving objects believed to be debris from an Air Self-Defense Force trainer jet from a reservoir in Inuyama in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on May 15, 2025. The T-4 aircraft crashed the previous day shortly after takeoff from Komaki Air Base, also in the prefecture.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

A U.S. Navy Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (front) and a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Osprey are on display at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event on May 4, 2025.

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

U.S. Iwakuni base opens on U.S.-Japan friendship day

A U.S. Navy Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (L) and a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Osprey are on display at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, during a U.S.-Japan friendship day event on May 4, 2025.

[Breaking News]Japan transports medical equipment to quake-hit Myanmar

MANDALAY, Myanmar, April 9 Kyodo - A Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-130 transport aircraft carrying medical relief supplies lands at an airport in Mandalay on April 9, 2025, after a massive earthquake struck the central Myanmar city and vicinity in March. (Kyodo)

Japan transports medical equipment to quake-hit Myanmar

Japan transports medical equipment to quake-hit Myanmar

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-130 transport aircraft carrying medical relief supplies lands at an airport in Mandalay on April 9, 2025, after a massive earthquake struck the central Myanmar city and vicinity in March.

Japan transports medical equipment to quake-hit Myanmar

Japan transports medical equipment to quake-hit Myanmar

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-130 transport aircraft carrying medical relief supplies lands at an airport in Mandalay on April 9, 2025, after a massive earthquake struck the central Myanmar city and vicinity in March.

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara holds a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 24, 2024, after a Russian military aircraft violated Japan's airspace three times the previous day, prompting an Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet to fire a signal flare for the first time ever.

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara holds a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 24, 2024, after a Russian military aircraft violated Japan's airspace three times the previous day, prompting an Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet to fire a signal flare for the first time ever.

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi meets the press in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2024, after a Russian military aircraft violated Japan's airspace three times earlier in the day, prompting an Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet to fire a signal flare for the first time ever.

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi meets the press in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2024, after a Russian military aircraft violated Japan's airspace three times earlier in the day, prompting an Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet to fire a signal flare for the first time ever.

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara (back, R) meets the press in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2024, after a Russian military aircraft violated Japan's airspace three times earlier in the day, prompting an Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet to fire a signal flare for the first time ever.

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara meets the press in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2024, after a Russian military aircraft violated Japan's airspace three times earlier in the day, prompting an Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet to fire a signal flare for the first time ever.

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara meets the press in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2024, after a Russian military aircraft violated Japan's airspace three times earlier in the day, prompting an Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet to fire a signal flare for the first time ever.

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets the press in New York on Sept. 23, 2024, after a Russian military aircraft violated Japan's airspace three times earlier in the day, prompting an Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet to fire a signal flare for the first time ever.

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Russian military plane violates Japan's airspace

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets the press in New York on Sept. 23, 2024, after a Russian military aircraft violated Japan's airspace three times earlier in the day, prompting an Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet to fire a signal flare for the first time ever.

ASDF plane makes emergency landing

ASDF plane makes emergency landing

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-2 transport aircraft makes an emergency landing at Niigata airport in Niigata Prefecture on May 9, 2024, after a window on the cockpit's port side opened midair.

US, Japan And South Korea Hold Drills In Disputed Sea

US, Japan And South Korea Hold Drills In Disputed Sea

Handout photo dated April 11, 2024 shows Ships assigned to the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Navy with aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 sail and fly in formation during a trilateral exercise. A U.S. carrier strike group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt has held a two-day joint exercise with its allies Japan and South Korea as U.S. President Joe Biden met for talks with leaders from Japan and the Philippines at the White House. The military and diplomatic maneuvers are meant to strengthen the partners’ solidarity in the face of what they see as China’s aggressive military actions in the region. A number of U.S. and South Korean guided missile destroyers and a Japanese warship joined the drills in the disputed East China Sea, where worries about China’s territorial claims are rising. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tommy Gooley via ABACAPRESS.COM

US, Japan And South Korea Hold Drills In Disputed Sea

US, Japan And South Korea Hold Drills In Disputed Sea

Handout photo dated April 11, 2024 shows Aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 fly in formation during a trilateral exercise with ships assigned to the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Navy. A U.S. carrier strike group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt has held a two-day joint exercise with its allies Japan and South Korea as U.S. President Joe Biden met for talks with leaders from Japan and the Philippines at the White House. The military and diplomatic maneuvers are meant to strengthen the partners’ solidarity in the face of what they see as China’s aggressive military actions in the region. A number of U.S. and South Korean guided missile destroyers and a Japanese warship joined the drills in the disputed East China Sea, where worries about China’s territorial claims are rising. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tommy Gooley via ABACAPRESS.COM

US Forces Shoot Down Houthi Missiles And Drones

US Forces Shoot Down Houthi Missiles And Drones

Handout photo dated October 15, 2012 shows two F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Royal Maces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 fly in formation with two Royal Malaysian air force Sukhoi Su-30s over the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the South China Sea. On Tuesday, U.S. fighter jets and a warship shot down an onslaught of missiles and attack drones in the southern Red Sea over a 10-hour period, military officials said. The downed weapons included a dozen one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles and two land attack cruise missiles. “U.S. assets, to include the USS Laboon and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, shot them down,” said U.S. Central Command, the Pentagon’s top combatant command in the Middle East. “There was no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries.” It wasn’t clear exactly what the drones and missiles were targeting, but U.S. forces in the region have carried out a number of “self-defense strikes” and shot down other drones a

GSDF Osprey aircraft in Okinawa

ISHIGAKI, Japan Kyodo - A drill for transporting injured personnel is carried out using a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force V-22 Osprey tilt-rot　or aircraft at Ishigaki airport on Ishigaki Island in the southern Japan prefecture of Okinawa on Oct. 24, 2023, as part of a joint exercise between the GSDF and the U.S. Marine Corps. (Kyodo)

Japan ASDF plane heads for Djibouti

KOMAKI, Japan, Oct. 14 Kyodo - The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's KC767 refueling and transport airplane leaves the ASDF's Komaki base in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Oct. 14, 2023, flying to Djibouti in East Africa to prepare for possible airlifting of Japanese nationals from Israel, where tensions are rising following Palestinian militant group Hamas's massive attack a week ago. (Kyodo)

Japan to send SDF planes to evacuate nationals from Sudan

Japan to send SDF planes to evacuate nationals from Sudan

Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff, holds a press conference at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on April 20, 2023, after the government ordered the Air Self-Defense Force to dispatch aircraft to Djibouti in preparation for the evacuation of Japanese nationals from Sudan, where military clashes are intensifying.

Bodies from missing Japan SDF chopper carried to base

Bodies from missing Japan SDF chopper carried to base

Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel carry bodies and other items recovered from a crashed SDF helicopter in the Air Self-Defense Force base on Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, on April 18, 2023. The UH-60JA helicopter went missing with 10 personnel aboard off the southern island, five bodies and part of the aircraft were located on April 16.

ASDF aircraft to transport relief goods to quake-hit Turkey

ASDF aircraft to transport relief goods to quake-hit Turkey

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force KC-767 aerial refueling and transport aircraft prepares to take off from the ASDF's Komaki base in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on March 14, 2023, to transport tents and other relief goods to Turkey following the Feb. 6 devastating earthquake in the country and Syria.

ASDF aircraft to transport relief goods to quake-hit Turkey

ASDF aircraft to transport relief goods to quake-hit Turkey

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force KC-767 aerial refueling and transport aircraft prepares to take off from the ASDF's Komaki base in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on March 14, 2023, to transport tents and other relief goods to Turkey following the Feb. 6 devastating earthquake in the country and Syria.

ASDF aircraft to transport relief goods to quake-hit Turkey

ASDF aircraft to transport relief goods to quake-hit Turkey

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force KC-767 aerial refueling and transport aircraft takes off from the ASDF's Komaki base in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on March 14, 2023, to transport tents and other relief goods to Turkey following the Feb. 6 devastating earthquake in the country and Syria.

Japan orders pullout of ASDF planes on evacuation mission in S. Sudan

Japan orders pullout of ASDF planes on evacuation mission in S. Sudan

TOKYO, Japan, July 22 Kyodo - Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani speaks to the press in Tokyo on July 22, 2016, after ordering the pullout of three Air Self-Defense Force C-130 cargo aircraft dispatched to Africa to help Japanese nationals evacuate from violence-hit South Sudan. Nakatani said the planes, which were ordered to leave Djibouti the following day, are expected to return to their base in central Japan on July 26.

Japan to use SDF aircraft in fight against Ebola

Japan to use SDF aircraft in fight against Ebola

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Nov. 28, 2014, shows a man wearing a set of personal protective equipment at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo. Japan will fly Air Self-Defense Force transport aircraft to Ghana to supply Ebola-hit West Africa with 20,000 sets of the equipment, the government said the same day.

Osprey takes part in disaster drill

Osprey takes part in disaster drill

SENDAI, Japan - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft makes a landing at a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force airfield in northwestern city of Sendai on Nov. 7, 2014. The Osprey from the Marines' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa is to take part in a large-scale disaster drill called "Michinoku ALERT 2014" that simulates a severe earthquake in the northeastern Japan.

Prime Minister Abe attends air review ceremony

Prime Minister Abe attends air review ceremony

OMITAMA, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R in front) inspects a MV-22 Osprey aircraft of the U.S. Marine Corps during an annual air review at Japan's Self-Defense Force's Hyakuri Air Base in the city of Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Oct. 26, 2014. The ceremony was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the launch of Japan's Self-Defense Forces.