Japan could bomb North Korean missile sites in 2006.

http://www.japan-press.co.jp/2331/self.html
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces have started their first aerial
refueling exercise with U.S. forces in preparation for the
introduction of their own refueling aircraft in 2006.
....
Defense Agency Director General Ishiba Shigeru said the SDF's
possession of the capability to attack enemy bases outside of Japan is
"worth sincere study."

So, which aircraft would japan send on a bombing mission in 2006?

The F-15Js don't seem to have a ground attack capability.

http://globalsecurity.org/military/w...apan/f-15j.htm

So I guess it's up to the F-2 attack fighters.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f2/

But I don't see any mention of a built in laser to guide the bombs.

The US has sold LANTIRN pods to Singapore so I suppose Japan could
have some of those for the asking.

http://pmdtc.org/docs/congnotices/CN097_01.pdf

-HJC

On 23 Dec 2003 07:51:59 -0800, (Henry J. Cobb) wrote:

http://www.japan-press.co.jp/2331/self.html
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces have started their first aerial
refueling exercise with U.S. forces in preparation for the
introduction of their own refueling aircraft in 2006.
...
Defense Agency Director General Ishiba Shigeru said the SDF's
possession of the capability to attack enemy bases outside of Japan is
"worth sincere study."

So, which aircraft would japan send on a bombing mission in 2006?

The F-15Js don't seem to have a ground attack capability.

http://globalsecurity.org/military/w...apan/f-15j.htm

So I guess it's up to the F-2 attack fighters.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f2/

But I don't see any mention of a built in laser to guide the bombs.

The US has sold LANTIRN pods to Singapore so I suppose Japan could
have some of those for the asking.

http://pmdtc.org/docs/congnotices/CN097_01.pdf

-HJC


Wouldn't JDAMs be easier?

Scott Ferrin wrote in message . ..
On 23 Dec 2003 07:51:59 -0800, (Henry J. Cobb) wrote:
So I guess it's up to the F-2 attack fighters.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f2/

But I don't see any mention of a built in laser to guide the bombs.

The US has sold LANTIRN pods to Singapore so I suppose Japan could
have some of those for the asking.

http://pmdtc.org/docs/congnotices/CN097_01.pdf

-HJC

Wouldn't JDAMs be easier?

If the United States is providing Japan the military GPS codes to
program into the JDAMs then we might as well send in some B2s to drop
the bombs.

I am considering here a nightmare scenario where Japan has to act
alone and looking at how their current plans and capabilities factor
into it.

So in this scenario North Korea has announced that they are going to
nuke Tokyo, South Korea is saying that the great leader is just
misunderstood and Howard Dean is in the White House.

So would Japan have a reasonable chance of pulling off such a raid by
themselves? And if not, then what exactly does a native air-to-air
refueling capability buy them?

-HJC

Henry,
The JASDF would have to change their name to Japanese Air Ground
Attack Force (JAGAF) !!! Hey we could attack them by 2006 (zulu time
tonite) if we wanted!

On 23 Dec 2003 17:33:30 -0800, (Henry J. Cobb) wrote:

Scott Ferrin wrote in message . ..
On 23 Dec 2003 07:51:59 -0800, (Henry J. Cobb) wrote:
So I guess it's up to the F-2 attack fighters.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f2/

But I don't see any mention of a built in laser to guide the bombs.

The US has sold LANTIRN pods to Singapore so I suppose Japan could
have some of those for the asking.

http://pmdtc.org/docs/congnotices/CN097_01.pdf

-HJC

Wouldn't JDAMs be easier?

If the United States is providing Japan the military GPS codes to
program into the JDAMs then we might as well send in some B2s to drop
the bombs.

I am considering here a nightmare scenario where Japan has to act
alone and looking at how their current plans and capabilities factor
into it.

So in this scenario North Korea has announced that they are going to
nuke Tokyo, South Korea is saying that the great leader is just
misunderstood and Howard Dean is in the White House.

So would Japan have a reasonable chance of pulling off such a raid by
themselves? And if not, then what exactly does a native air-to-air
refueling capability buy them?

-HJC