Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the Diet on Jan. 22 that the Japan Self-Defense Force has flown protective mission for U.S. military aircraft.
Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, fly alongside a Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-2s over the vicinity of the East China Sea, Oct. 21, 2017. Following the flight with Koku Jieitai the Lancers continued on to participate in a flyover for the 2017 Seoul Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (Seoul ADEX 17) at Seoul Airport, Republic of Korea. (photo courtesy of Koku Jieitai [Japan Air Self-Defense Force])
This is the first time such an aerial mission has been carried out under a new security law passed in 2016 for the Japanese military to aid American forces.
Mainichi reported that the mission was to protect USAF B-1 bombers flying off North Korea.
![Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, fly alongside a Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-2s over the vicinity of the East China Sea, Oct. 21, 2017. Following the flight with Koku Jieitai the Lancers continued on to participate in a flyover for the 2017 Seoul Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (Seoul ADEX 17) at Seoul Airport, Republic of Korea. (photo courtesy of Koku Jieitai [Japan Air Self-Defense Force])](http://alert5.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/3884757.jpg)