April 29, 2011 at 8:20 am
I will say first that I have no idea if Japan is restricted (or still restricted) by post war rules and regulations.
I have never seen a Japanese F-4 or F-2 carrying precision guided air to ground munitions…this is except for anti-ship weaponry…and have often wondered if this is part of its defensive planning. Does Japan assume it would defeat any sea borne invasion before it gets anywhere near the coast? Is it reliant on the US for dealing with targets on the ground in its defence or is there something else?
The Japanese Apache and Cobra gunships seem to be the only aircraft that carry weapons to deal with tanks and other armoured vehicles. Is this right?