A Dangerous New World

As 2018 looms closer to a close, the chaos of global threats to peace and security have multiplied in the wake of the failed leadership of the Trump Regime. Since the end of the Second World War, the world has looked to America to be the proponent of freedom and democracy around the world. That shining beacon on the hill as President Ronald Reagan once called it. But as it stands, this experiment with a reality TV host as president has destabilized the world order while Moscow and Beijing take full advantage of the situation. This week alone has seen such extraordinary unprecedented moves on the part of our foreign adversaries starting with the call by senior Chinese Navy officers calling for the ramming of American Navy ships in the South China Seas. If that wasn't bold enough, they also reminded the world they intend to take Taiwan back by brute force once they are confident that America will do nothing.

Meanwhile, as our foolish leader orders the withdrawal from Syria and Afganistan, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has called the American Presence in Japan an obstacle to signing a formal peace treaty that would finally end hostilities lingering from WWII. Why not? He somehow he got Trump to abandon the Middle East and our Kurdish allies to certain death gifting Moscow and Tehran dominance. With indecision and vacillation, our impulsive leader is emboldening such moves on the part of our adversaries. This is a disturbing development which further makes a case for PM Shinzo Abe to push for the record military budget he has asked for and the long overdue revision of their post-war American imposed Constitution. As a result, Japan will now get more F-35A and F-35B Stealth fighters and prepare to upgrade the existing Izumo Class carriers to launch them. Naturally, Beijing has already sounded protest and has in so many words warned of an escalation of tensions. If that weren't enough, North Korea has thrown an all or nothing denuclearization demands on this already weakened president who declared victory by meeting with their despotic leader. The solution will come for the American people have had enough of this chaos. We must right this ship of state or be sunk by it. Until that moment of truth comes, our military leadership, as well as our newly elected members of Congress must restore order before the world is plunged further into crisis. And while it is said it is always darkest before the dawn, the new reality is as my child's favorite movie says, we will have to sail through a whole ocean of bad to get there. Until then, pray for peace. 

Inevitability Revealed: F-35 Prospects for Izumo Class Carriers

Ever since the inception of the Izumo Class Helicopter Destroyer Carrier, the prospect of complimenting such carriers with fixed wing aircraft has been the subject of debate. Long held as an objection by Beijing, the growing tensions in both the South China Seas and on the Korean Penninsula have brought forth this long held notion that such a deployment of fighter aircraft aboard a JMSDF carrier would not only become an inevitability but a necessity. This of course challenges Japan's post war restrictions prohibiting offensive first strike aircraft on Japanese vessels. So far, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera says they are merely studying the concept and will make determinations based on Japan's ever changing defense needs. We are certain Japan has looked extensively at USMC F-35B fighter wings based on US Navy Assault ships. Currently, Japan has only two Izumo Class carriers; the Izumo and the Kaga which are both larger than their WWII predecessors thus making them capable of carrying such V/STOL 5th Generation fighters. As reassured by the Abe Government, this is only a study and not a promise to arm these JMSDF vessels. To be continued.

Got Stealth? JASDF Orders Additional F-35's

This week it was announced in Japan Today that the JASDF will be purchassing an addition 20 F-35A 5th Generation Stealth Fighters. Unlike the previous 42 advanced fighter planes whose final assembly is done by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan, these will come directly from Lockheed Martin in the United States. Sources state issues with production time tables for this reason and not trade tarrifs imposed by the Trump Regime. The going pricetag for Japan is $100 Million each. Buying direct will save Japan an estimated $30 million per plane. How that works out is not so readily explained but then again we know Beijing is reading and watching. Any realist will tell you that such an upgrade should not be the cause of alarm due to the lack of significant numbers of orders. This generation of Stealth fighters replaces 50 year old F-4 Phantoms and the first of many aging F-15 fighters. Japan will eventually have it's new home grown Stealth Fighter people are calling the F-3 (aka the ATX-D-F3) but that won't be available for another decade. In the meantime, Japan must have a ready force to meet the growing threats from North Korea and troubles on the South China Seas. We hope they will keep Japan safe and contribute to stability in the region.

Japan's Stealth Era Starts Now

Seen here is the JASDF's brand new F-35A Stealth Fighter at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture. It is the first of ten planes to be deployed between now and April 2018 that will complete a full squadron of these controversial multi-role single engine Generation 5 fighter planes built by U.S. Defense Contractor Lockheed Martin. The JASDF plans to have 42 of these high performance fighters that will carry the long range JSM missiles to counter the growing threats posed by North Korea and those posed in the South China Sea. The F-35A is scheduled to replace Japan's remaining Generation 3 F-4 Phantoms which have been in service for over 40 years. Thier arrival officially brings Japan's Air Self Defense Force into the Stealth Era.

Japan's F-35A Rollout

In a recent lavish celebration held in Texas, American Defense Contractor Lockheed Martin and the Japanese Ministry of Defense has announced the official roll out of the first of 42 F-35A Lightning Stealth Fighter planes for Japan's Air Self Defense Force.Lockheed has partnered with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and other Japanese Contractors to tailor the new Joint Strike Fighter to Japan's specific defense needs.Initial assembly will take place at Fort Worth while final assembly will take place in Nagoya Japan. Japanese pilots will train with other pilots and maintenance personnel from Norway and Italy at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The planes will eventually be based at Misawa which is home to the USAF's 35th Fighter Wing flying older F-16's.

All fanfare aside, it is our hope that Mitsubishi will resolve the issues plaguing this controversial 5th Generation fighter plane. While it has its stealth and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, it's two missile and 1200 round gun limitations are cause for great concerns. It will be up to Japanese engineers to make this work. We at American Mishima wish them all the success. がんばって ください!

Japan's New Izumo Carrier Gets Commissioned

After lengthy sea trials, the JMSDF commissioned it's newest class of "Helicopter Destroyer" carrier DDH-181 Izumo in a formal ceremony atop her decks on March 25th, 2015. The Izumo is one of two scheduled ships of her size and class to be built for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. The Izumo is the exact size of the WWII IJN Carrier Shokaku. What separates the Izumo from other aircraft carriers is the absence of a steam catapult or ski-lift. However this does not stop the Izumo from carrying STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) aircraft such as the proposed F-35B variant of the F-35 II Lightening. 

 

All fixed wing aircraft debates aside, the Izumo will carry up to 25 aircraft. She is planned to carry up to 9 V-22 Ospreys, 7 ASW helicopters, and 2 SAR helicopters. The Izumo comes fully loaded with an electronic suite, antisubmarine gear, 2 phalanx guns, and 2 SeaRam Close in weapon systems making her a formidable weapons platform for the 21st Century. 

So now that you got your commission, what are you going to do next? Well, for the Izumo it's six months of training out of her home port at Yokosuka than off to her first patrol doing surveillance. While the Izumo may appear small next to the US Navy's Nimitz Carriers, she carries enough firepower and equipment to provide a variety of missions from humanitarian to peacekeeping. While the debate will continue on the part of PM Shinzo Abe as to the need to scrap Article 9's provisions limiting Japan's defense forces, we at American Mishima hope to see Japan one day have a fixed wing aircraft carrier of her own to help provide more security in the region and continue to play an ample role in our continued military alliance. Until that time we wish the Captain and the crew of the Izumo a big Ganbarre and may she keep Japan safe.