Japan air force's acrobatic flight show

Japan air force's acrobatic flight show

FUKUOKA, Japan - People watch a performance by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse acrobatic flight team during a festival at the ASDF's Ashiya Air Base in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 23, 2011, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the base. The Blue Impulse, based at tsunami-hit Matsushima Air Base in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, were not hit by the March 11 tsunami as the team was at the Ashiya base since March 10 to perform in an event.

1st antiballistic missile launcher set in Kyushu

1st antiballistic missile launcher set in Kyushu

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - A Self-Defense Force member secures the launcher for PAC-3 ballistic missile interceptors at an Air Self-Defense Force base in Ashiya, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Nov. 12, 2009. The launcher is the first such to be deployed on the southwestern Japanese main island of Kyushu.

Japan air force's acrobatic flight show

Japan air force's acrobatic flight show

FUKUOKA, Japan - People watch a performance by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse acrobatic flight team during a festival at the ASDF's Ashiya Air Base in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 23, 2011, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the base. The Blue Impulse, based at tsunami-hit Matsushima Air Base in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, were not hit by the March 11 tsunami as the team was at the Ashiya base since March 10 to perform in an event. (Kyodo)

1st antiballistic missile launcher set in Kyushu

1st antiballistic missile launcher set in Kyushu

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - A Self-Defense Force member secures the launcher for PAC-3 ballistic missile interceptors at an Air Self-Defense Force base in Ashiya, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Nov. 12, 2009. The launcher is the first such to be deployed on the southwestern Japanese main island of Kyushu. (Kyodo)