The US gives the JASDF the latest and greatest in fighter technology and they lose it. Not only did they lose the fighter but there is a REALLY big chance that Russia and China are scrambling to find it as well which could lead to some really big security issues. China and Russia have been trying to imitate American stealth Technology for Decades. They have come close but never fully figured it out.
Breaking! Japanese Defense Ministry sources say a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II disappeared from radar at around 19:30 hrs local time on 9 April 2019. #F35 #JASDF #LightningII #F35A #Japan #JapanAirSelfDefenseForce # pic.twitter.com/FW43fgHzUg
— Scramble (@scramble_nl) April 9, 2019
According to DefenseNews the JASDF actually just transitioned from the aging F4 platform this year officially retiring the 60 year old cold war era Phantoms of the 302nd Fighter squadron. Needless to say it is probably going to be one hell of a retrain for the current pilots.

FoxNews reports that the F-35 fighter jet missing in the Pacific could be a major security headache for the U.S. if Russia or China locate the state-of-the-art fighter jet first, experts warn.
Japanese defense officials say a search is underway for the fighter jet after it disappeared from radar during a flight exercise in northern Japan. The plane’s pilot is also missing.
Bristling with sophisticated technology and weaponry, the F-35 is the result of the most expensive weapons program in America’s military history, valued at $406.1 billion.
“There is no price too high in this world for China and Russia to pay to get Japan’s missing F-35, if they can. Big deal,” tweeted Tom Moore, a former senior professional staff member at the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Both Russia and China maintain a significant naval presence in the region, sparking concerns that they could find the missing F-35, Business Insider reports.
“If one of Japan’s F-35s is sitting at the bottom of the Pacific, we are probably about to see one of the biggest underwater espionage and counter-espionage ops since the Cold War. If it was operating without its radar reflectors pinpointing where it went in may be an issue,” tweeted Tyler Rogoway, editor of The War Zone.
“It could present…
Air Self-Defense Force, around 7:27 pm: over the sea about 135 km northeast of Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture, F35 fighter jets belonging to the Misawa base have disappeared from the radar. 1 pilot was on the board https://t.co/tbruS0oPHH via @nhk_news pic.twitter.com/p9CcWbc5Og
— Liveuamap (@Liveuamap) April 9, 2019