Japan mulls buying F-35B fighters for future operation from carriers

The Defense Ministry is considering buying new fighter jets that may be put on its "helicopter carriers," in what could be seen as a change in Japan's defense posture that has banned the possession of offensive aircraft carriers, government sources said Sunday.The sources said the introduction of F-35Bs, which are capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings, will be useful to counter China's growing maritime assertiveness. They are expected to bolster defenses of far-flung islands in Japan's southwest, where only short runways exist, they said.The move, however, is likely to trigger a b…READ FULL ARTICLE