[sukhoi-30mki]

F-35 with 2 externally mounted JSMs

[Seruzawa]

Wasn’t it supposed to be an attack plane?

[calenel]

WWIII heating up - the Japanese are adding offensive capability.

[Charles Martel]

The government has said that the Constitution allows Japan to possess the capability of striking enemy bases, but the nation does not actually possess the capability as its political decisions have been based on an exclusively defense-oriented policy.

Okay, so they're considering adding some offensive capability - all as allowed under Japanese law. So why is it necessary to broadcast such plans?

[SaveFerris]

As a kid, I was riding my mini-cycle in a motorcycle park when a Blue Angels F-4 Phantom II screamed overhead at what seemed to be 50 feet. Sweet. Let's go to Japan for a sec:

[lavaroise]

Striking bases would require nuke tipped missiles.

[Redwood71]

The F-35 II was supposed to be the next air superiority aircraft. But the cat’s already out of the bag for the new “toys” it contains.

Many classified documents leaked by former US intelligence agent Edward Snowden, reported 18 January 2015 that hackers affiliated with the Chinese government stole “many terabytes” of sensitive military information including plans of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) – the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

The stolen data contained details of the stealth fighter’s “radar systems which are used to identify and track targets; detailed engine schematics; methods for cooling exhaust gases; and “aft deck heating contour maps”.

In other word’s, probably everybody can draw the schematics of the entire aircraft and know how to nuetralize it or confuse a computer program that has been known to falter on targeting identification and need rebooting in mid-air.

As usual, before it hits the door, it’s outdated.

rwood