Japan

Latest in Japan

Japan's plans to place SAMS on an island near Taiwan has China outraged.

Japan’s Plan To Put SAMs On Strategic Island 70 Miles From Taiwan Could Be Just The Beginning

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

Japan’s Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has offered the first look at damage to a target ship after it was hit by projectiles fired from a prototype electromagnetic railgun in testing earlier this year.

Railgun Damage To Japanese Target Ship Seen For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 13, 2025

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Oyashio-class submarine JS Mocishio transits with ships assigned to Rim of the Pacific 2010 combined task force as part of a photo exercise noerth of Hawaii. RIMPAC, the world’s largest multinational maritime exercise is a biennial event which allows participating nations to work together to build trust and enhance partnerships needed to improve maritime security.

Japan Will Arm Its Submarines With Long-Range Cruise Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 9, 2025

apan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided missile destroyer JS Chokai (DDG 176) steams in close formation as one of 40 ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

First Japanese Destroyer Heads To U.S. For Tomahawk Missile Modifications

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 30, 2025

Japan's Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has released new pictures from testing of a prototype electromagnetic railgun aboard the testbed warship JS Asuka earlier this year.

Japanese Warship Fires Railgun At Target Vessel For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 11, 2025

The U.S. Navy says the impacts from a fire that burned for approximately 12 hours aboard the USS New Orleans earlier this week are limited to forward areas of the ship, though a full assessment of the damage is still ongoing.

New Details On Status Of USS New Orleans After Fire

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 22, 2025

The U.S. Navy's San Antonio class amphibious warfare ship USS New Orleans suffered a fire today while it was anchored off White Beach in Uruma City on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

Fire Aboard USS New Orleans Burned For 12 Hours Before Being Extinguished (Updated)

Howard Altman Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 20, 2025

An upgraded derivative of Japan's Mogami class frigate has won a competition to become the Royal Australian Navy's next major surface warship.

Japan’s Futuristic Mogami Frigate Will Be Australia’s Next Warship

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 5, 2025

A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II, assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., taxis on the runway after landing to participate in exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Andersen AFB, Guam, July 11, 2025. REFORPAC is a large-scale contingency response exercise, which prepares service members to maintain readiness and execute missions under stress.

F-15EX Arrives In Japan For The First Time As Part Of Massive Pacific Exercise

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 15, 2025

New pictures have emerged showing work being done on the Japan Self-Defense Forces' prototype electromagnetic railgun currently installed on the test warship JS Asuka.

Railgun Installed On Japanese Warship Seen In New Photos

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 1, 2025

Boeing’s F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter has been pitched to Japan by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to reports. The idea of an export-configured F-47 was brought up by Trump when he announced Boeing’s win in the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) manned combat jet initiative. Meanwhile, Japan is apparently also looking at increasing its buy of F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters, prompted by concerns over the timeline for the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), a sixth-generation combat jet being pursued jointly by Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Trump Offers F-47 Sixth-Gen Fighter To Japan: Reports

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 30, 2025

The Japan Self-Defense Forces have offered an official look at the turret-mounted electromagnetic railgun now installed on the test ship JS Asuka.

Railgun Installed On Japanese Warship Testbed

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 18, 2025

A U.S. Air Force B1-Lancer assigned to the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron sits on a runway during post-flight maintenance in support of Pacific Air Forces’ Bomber Task Force mission at Misawa Air Base, Feb. 20, 2025. Through combined training, the U.S. and intercontinental defense forces work together to promote interoperability, thus furthering our investments and strengthening our relationships.

B-1B Bones Make Unprecedented Bomber Task Force Deployment To Japan

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 17, 2025

The new Tempest configuration, this time with Japan Air Self-Defense Force markings.

UK Emphasizes Need To Arm Tempest Stealth Fighter With Larger, Longer Range Air-To-Air Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 14, 2025

A U.S. Army High Mobility Rocket System (HIMARS).

Marine HIMARS Deployment To Southern Japanese Islands During Taiwan Crisis Detailed In Report

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

Posted on Nov 26, 2024

BF-19, Lt Cdr Nicholas Baker RN, Flight 633, Test 808, Arrival JS KAGA for beginning of DT Sea Trails, 20 October 2024

Japan Expands Carrier Capabilities With F-35B, Drones Could Be Next

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 22, 2024