The Japanese military announced, on Tuesday, that Japan and France will conduct a joint air exercise for the first time, between July 26 and 29.
The Japanese Air Force said in a statement that this exercise, to be held in Japan, aims to deepen bilateral defense cooperation, in order for the Indo-Pacific region to be free and open.
The drill will involve four French Rafale jets and six Japanese F-2 fighters, as well as a Japanese E-2C early warning aircraft and a KC-135 tanker plane.
The French jets arrived in Japan on July 17 after flying over 10,000 kilometers from their base in the United Arab Emirates.
The joint fighter jet drill is part of a broader effort by Japan and France to enhance their strategic partnership in the face of China’s growing assertiveness and influence in the region
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