POINT OF VIEW/ Alessio Patalano: The FX competition and the dilemma of Japanese defense policy

INTERVIEW/ Gen. Gary L. North: New fighter aircraft change nature of war

HONOLULU--With fifth-generation fighter aircraft such as the F-22 and F-35 offering greater stealth and data-fusion capabilities, "the nature of warfare in an aerial environment is dramatically changed," said Gen. Gary L. North, Commander, U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), in a recent interview with The Asahi Shimbun.

EDITORIAL: Japan's choice of F-35 fighter raises serious questions

The government has chosen F-35 stealth jets jointly developed by nine countries, including the United States and Britain, as the mainstay fighter for the Air Self-Defense Force.

EDITORIAL: Cyber defenses must be improved

Not only the Japanese defense industry but also the central institutions of Japan’s political and foreign affairs communities have been targeted in cyber-attacks.

EDITORIAL: Annual defense report short on substance

The 2011 defense white paper, published Aug. 2, is the second such report issued under Democratic Party of Japan rule.