Japan rebukes S. Korea for weapons radar lock on military aircraft
Japan rebuked South Korea Friday after claiming one of the country's warships had locked its weapons targeting system onto a Japanese military aircraft.
South Korea's KDX-1 class destroyer locked its fire control radar on a Japanese P-1 patrol plane on Thursday off Noto peninsula in the Sea of Japan that divides the two countries, Tokyo's defence ministry said.
‘It was an extremely dangerous act,’ defence minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters.
‘Considering the significance of this case, our country today conveyed a strong protest to South Korea.’
Ties between Japan and South Korea -- both allies of the US -- have remained icy for decades due to the legacy of Japan's brutal 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.
Both countries have frequently locked horns over islets in the sea controlled by Seoul but also claimed by Tokyo.
Japan cancelled plans to join an international naval fleet review in South Korea in October after Seoul demanded the removal of a controversial naval flag hoisted by a Japanese vessel.
Two years ago, Tokyo and Beijing were at loggerheads over accusations Japanese warplanes locked their fire control radar onto Chinese aircraft.
More from Defence Notes
-
![White House calls on Pentagon contractors to “rapidly and aggressively” boost weapon production]()
White House calls on Pentagon contractors to “rapidly and aggressively” boost weapon production
Intended to sustain Operation Epic Fury against Iran, efforts to increase the production of weapons and ammunition could expose long-standing weaknesses in the US defence industrial base.
-
![India’s strategic defence footprint expansion could be accelerated by Iran-Israel conflict]()
India’s strategic defence footprint expansion could be accelerated by Iran-Israel conflict
The latest escalation between Iran and Israel could shape New Delhi’s next-generation shield as India deepens cooperation with Israel on missile defence and drone production.
-
![Is the US magazine of air defence interceptors deep enough to sustain a long campaign against Iran?]()
Is the US magazine of air defence interceptors deep enough to sustain a long campaign against Iran?
The Pentagon spent a considerable number of THAAD and SM-3 rounds to defend against Iranian missiles in 2025 and has not fully replenished its reserves.
-
![New Zealand buys tri-service uncrewed kit from Syos Aerospace]()
New Zealand buys tri-service uncrewed kit from Syos Aerospace
As uncrewed technology continues to play an increasingly central role in modern military activities, New Zealand’s recent acquisitions point towards its the force’s focus on cost-effective capability.
