U.S. Sends Two Anti-Submarine Jets to Japan

Originally published on December 3, 2013

The US Navy sent two P-8A Poseidon airliners to Japan when tension runs high in the region.

According to AFP, the aircraft departed Jacksonville, Florida on November 29. The authorities confirmed that the jets reached Kadena air base in Okinawa two days later.

Developed by Boeing, the aircraft's design was based on the commercial 737. It uses the same fuselage as 737-800 and wings 737-900.

Equipped with AN/APY-10 radar, the jet is designed as an anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare plane.

The aircraft can launch MK-54 torpedoes from altitudes as high as 30,000 feet. Its underwing hardpoints can also accommodate air-to-surface cruise missiles.

Four more Poseidon-8A jets will arrive in Japan later this week. The U.S. authorities say the flights were routine operations, which were planned before China declared its air defence zone in late November. Any aircraft entering the area should submit their flight plans to the Chinese authorities under the new regulation, but so far Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States have sent planes without giving China prior notice.

The East China Sea has a running history of territorial disputes. Both Japan and China laid claim to a group of uninhabited islands, which are known as the Senkaku Islands in the former, Diaoyu Islands the latter. The U.S. has not taken a stance in this dispute, but it would back its Japanese ally in case of conflicts.

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