US-chartered ship to join deep-sea F-35A search | ABS-CBN
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US-chartered ship to join deep-sea F-35A search
US-chartered ship to join deep-sea F-35A search
Kyodo News
Published Apr 23, 2019 04:00 PM PHT

TOKYO - Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Tuesday a U.S.-chartered ship will join a deep-sea search within this month for an F-35A fighter jet which recently crashed in the Pacific.
TOKYO - Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Tuesday a U.S.-chartered ship will join a deep-sea search within this month for an F-35A fighter jet which recently crashed in the Pacific.
Iwaya told a press conference that the Van Gogh will join the search effort by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. forces off the northeastern Japanese prefecture of Aomori, saying, "We'll try to find the wreckage (of the crashed F-35A) as soon as possible."
Iwaya told a press conference that the Van Gogh will join the search effort by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. forces off the northeastern Japanese prefecture of Aomori, saying, "We'll try to find the wreckage (of the crashed F-35A) as soon as possible."
The jet, developed by U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin Corp. and assembled by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., went down on April 9 during a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force night exercise after taking off from Misawa Air Base in Aomori.
The jet, developed by U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin Corp. and assembled by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., went down on April 9 during a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force night exercise after taking off from Misawa Air Base in Aomori.
Both countries are concerned about the implications of the cutting-edge aircraft being recovered by other countries as it could constitute a major military intelligence security breach.
Both countries are concerned about the implications of the cutting-edge aircraft being recovered by other countries as it could constitute a major military intelligence security breach.
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The ASDF pilot of the single-seat stealth jet also remains missing.
The ASDF pilot of the single-seat stealth jet also remains missing.
Iwaya told reporters in Washington Friday that acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan agreed to dispatch a ship to search for the F-35A's wreckage following a request from Japan.
Iwaya told reporters in Washington Friday that acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan agreed to dispatch a ship to search for the F-35A's wreckage following a request from Japan.
Japanese science minister Masahiko Shibayama told a separate press conference on Tuesday that the research vessel Kaimei, owned by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, will take part in the search following a request from the Defense Ministry.
Japanese science minister Masahiko Shibayama told a separate press conference on Tuesday that the research vessel Kaimei, owned by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, will take part in the search following a request from the Defense Ministry.
According to the agency, the ship is equipped with a remotely operated vehicle which can observe under the sea at a depth of about 3,000 meters.
According to the agency, the ship is equipped with a remotely operated vehicle which can observe under the sea at a depth of about 3,000 meters.
==Kyodo
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