Japan finds parts of crashed F-35 fighter jet
Japan said on 7 May that it had recovered some debris from a stealth fighter jet that crashed in April, but was still looking for the ‘all-important’ memory that could offer clues into the accident.
Nearly a month after the high-tech F-35A plummeted into the sea off the coast of northeastern Japan, neither the pilot's body, nor the plane's fuselage have been found, said Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
Experts say Japan and the US are keen to prevent debris from the plane being recovered by Russia or China, with Iwaya admitting last month there were ‘a significant amount of secrets that need to be protected’ on board.
Some debris, including a part of the flight data recorder, were recovered ‘on or after May 3’, Iwaya said, adding: ‘The Defence Ministry is studying (the parts), but at this point, the all-important memory (of the flight data recorder) has not been recovered.’
The fighter jet went missing on 9 April while flying 135km (85 miles) east of Misawa, northeastern Japan, on a training mission. The plane lost contact about 30 minutes after taking off from Misawa Air Base with three other aircraft.
It was the first reported case of a crash by an F-35A, according to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Japanese and US search crews have already found the jet's tail.
US and Japanese troops have used data from a Japanese seabed research ship along with a US-chartered special ‘diving support’ vessel for deep-sea operations to pull up the newly discovered parts, Iwaya said.
Japan is deploying F-35As, each of which costs more than ¥10 billion ($90 million), to replace its ageing F-4 fighters.
They are a key part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to upgrade the nation's military capacity to meet changing power dynamics in East Asia, with China rapidly modernising its military.
More from Defence Notes
-
Why cybersecurity must be a priority for Latin American militaries
The main obstacles to overcoming risks in the region are a lack of a strong cybersecurity culture and inadequate funds to invest in this domain given a widespread Chinese presence in the region.
-
MBDA navigates supply chain pressures amidst increased demand for armaments
MBDA is adapting to supply chain pressures as the Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to increased demand for armaments.
-
Why UK defence still faces an uncertain future and difficult decisions
Despite the additional funding promised this week, the UK armed forces still look set to face cutbacks, and maintaining international commitments to AUKUS and GCAP may limit the options for other programmes.
-
What's the deal with defence procurement? (podcast)
This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.