The Pentagon will send P-8 submarine-hunting aircraft, cruise missiles, Virginia-class submarines, coastal combat ships and F-35 fighter jets to Asian ports and bases in coming years, the senior official told reporters
“What you’re seeing is part of a bigger effort, the Pacific theatre will get the newest weapons systems first,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Pentagon has promoted a tilt to Asia after a decade of ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reflecting concern over China’s growing military power and its assertive stance in territorial disputes with its neighbors.
The United States already plans to deploy more than half of its fleet to the Asia-Pacific and to station four littoral combat ships — speedy new vessels designed to operate near coastlines — for rotational deployments in Singapore.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday that the stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is still in development, could be deployed at the Iwakuni air station in Japan’s Yamaguchi prefecture by 2017.
Washington also is providing Japan with another powerful X-band radar to bolster its missile defenses, a move announced in September..."
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