Tag Archives: Japan

The U.S. Marine Corps could see its F-35B fighter jets take off for an initial combat mission in the next few days after an amphibious assault ship started its voyage toward the Persian Gulf, CNN reported Wednesday. Defense officials told the publication that the Lockheed Martin-built F-35B aircraft aboard the USS Essex ship could be deployed soon to support airstrikes in Afghanistan.
 

Brig. Gen. Lorna Mahlock, former deputy director of plans, policies, and operations at the U.S. Marine Corps‘ headquarters, has taken a new role as the service branch’s chief information officer, FCW reported Friday. She will concurrently serve as director of command, control, communications and computers at USMC. Mahlock succeeds Kenneth Bible, who has …

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has presented a bill that would facilitate the compilation and submission of a report that will cover the common defense contributions of allied countries. The Allied Burden Sharing Report Act of 2018 would obligate the Defense Department to annually submit an extensive record of military support from …

The U.S. looks to incorporate Japanese-made semiconductors into radar systems that would help increase the Aegis missile defense system’s detection range, Nikkei Asian Review reported Friday. The report said a possible U.S.-Japan project that could begin with research, followed by preparation for a mass production of radars with components such as  …

Four senators have introduced a bill that would allocate $1.5 billion in annual defense funds over five years to deter and counter China’s influence in the Pacific region and bolster military partnership with Taiwan, Defense News reported Tuesday. The proposed Asia Reassurance Initiative Act would authorize regular weapons sales to …

The U.S. Air Force is sending five CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to a military air base in Tokyo earlier than previously anticipated. U.S. Forces Japan said Tuesday the CV-22 units, built by Bell-Boeing, will arrive at Yokota Air Base later this week as part of the branch’s efforts to help address regional security …

Vice President Mike Pence has said the U.S. intends to remain vigilant and work with its Indo-Pacific allies to heighten pressure on North Korea to abandon the latter country’s nuclear weapon development efforts, DoD News reported Thursday. He told audience during a speech Wednesday at Yokota Air Base in Japan that North Korean threats …

Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has said he met with Ellen Lord, top acquisition chief at the Defense Department; and Lt. Gen. Charles Hooper, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency; to determine ways on how to accelerate the foreign military sales process, Defense News reported Friday. Shanahan told reporters …

Troops from Marine Air Control Squadron 4 and other marine groups have gathered in Okinawa Dec. 4 to participate in a 12-day exercise on airfield construction. The Voodoo Magic exercise trained marines’ skills in operating without an airfield and taking over an already established airfield, the Defense Department said Friday. Teams …

Japan has approved a $45.8 billion defense budget for the year beginning April 1, including $1.2 billion for ballistic missile defense programs, Reuters reported Friday. The budget will fund purchases of the Raytheon-made Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptors; updates for the Patriot missile batteries; and preparations for the establishment of two ground-based Aegis ballistic missile defense systems, …