The Tenth Japan-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations was held in Toyko on Dec. 9 and the joint statement revealed that Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35s will deploy to Japan for the first time next year to participate in Exercise Bushido Guardian.
U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Both sides will also conduct unit exchanges and more complex exercises, Japan’s F-35s will focus on maneuver deployment training with the aim of potentially deploying the fighters on rotation in Australia in the future. They will also enhance cooperation on strategic capabilities, including long-range guided weapons, Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD).
Japan had deployed its F-2 fighters to Australia this year for Exercise Pitch Black in Darwin. The fighters had relied on RAAF aerial refueling tankers for support during the exercise. The latest ministerial statement said both sides intend to expand air-to-air refueling pairings between the air forces.
The meeting was attended by Hayashi Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Hamada Yasukazu, Minister of Defence of Japan, Richard Marles, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, and Penny Wong, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
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