Of course, who didn’t. Japan is going to buy 100 additional F-35s, including F-35Bs which can operate from the country’s two helicopter carriers. Makes perfect sense. Also, Japan is ramping up its defense spending. The South China Sea is going to become a more interesting place that it already is.
I am sure this is expensive, but if you are an F-14 fan, I can see this being worth it to you.
Since I’ve been on the subject lately, here is a nice article with a general background on the subject.
I’ve gone down a real rabbit hole since reading for the first time the story of an E8N “Dave” purchased by the Germans from the Japanese for use on one of their commerce raiders. My original post is here. Since then I’ve done a bit more readings and research. It appears that a second Dave may have been purchased, but there is some question as to whether or not it was used.
This is allegedly a photo of the second Dave aboard the German ship Thannenfels.
Here is the post on the Arawasi blog with that story.
So far the only photo of the Dave in British markings on the Orion is the one that was in my previous post. The serial number painted on the aircraft L5196 is said to actually be a serial for a Fairey Battle and was a reference to the seaplane unit on the Orion.
In addition, it appears that one other German commerce raider used an aircraft in British or South African markings. In this case, a German He-114. A mention of this is in this article. In addition, noted Australian aviation author writes in an article that an He-114 from a German commerce raider overflew Port Adelaide, though what markings it carried are unknown.
For more on German commerce raiders in the Pacific generally, see this article.
I am officially hooked. If anyone knows anything else on this subject, or has any pointers to any interesting photos, let me know.
Looks like China might be having trouble coming up with the money to pay for its next carrier. Frankly I think the current US administration is using trade pressure as one way to deprive the Chinese of money to invest in their defense. I think this is a wise move, even if it means more expensive goods here.
An interesting article on the development of the Battlecruiser class of naval ship at the turn of the 1900s.
I posted earlier on the issue in the Sea of Azov. Now comes a report that the Russians made a massive “dry run attack” on a British Type 45 destroyer in the Black Sea. As I said in the previous post, the west needs to make the type of response that will let the Russians know that this won’t be tolerated. Anything less invites a shooting war later on.
Looks like Russia has decided to flex its muscles against someone it doesn’t think will be able to respond. The western countries need to band together and take steps that inflict enough pain on Moscow to cause them to change their behavior. Anything else will simply encourage Putin.
Interesting article on the problems the Russians are having with procurement of new naval landing ships. Reinforces what I have been saying about Russia being a paper tiger.
