Marcel's needle-nosed Bird in Nihon

[ValAstur]

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, a diplomatic crisis erupted between the US and Japan when the Kennedy administration pressured its Pacific ally to contribute to nuclear deterrence by allowing the US to deploy medium-range missiles on japanese soil. McNamara and Dean Rusk, in particular, pressured Hayato Ikeda, then Prime Minister of Japan. After he yielded to American pressure, protests, some of them violent, erupted in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Osaka, by opponents of this decision. The people feared a Soviet retaliation that could lead to a drastic escalation.

Due to internal pressure, including from the Emperor, who did not want to see his people die in another war, Ikeda ultimately rejected the American demands. Surprised by the Japanese withdrawal, the US again attempted to exert pressure, threatening a massive weakening of alliance agreements, which would leave Japan militarily severely weakened. The threat of a military conflict with China and the Soviet Union loomed. Due to the US's anti-communist doctrine, they would have continued to support Japan in such a scenario, but wanted to force a return to a more conciliatory stance.

However, Japan's refusal to yield to US pressure had diplomatic and military consequences. The Americans reduced trade with Japan, which also impacted technology exchange in the military sector. In addition, the Americans largely withdrew their military presence from Japan, leaving only a reconnaissance unit tasked with monitoring of the neighboring communist countries.

Japan now needed a new source of military equipment, as the American withdrawal also drastically hampered its ability to purchase military supplies. Japan approached Britain and France, as these two countries, after the United States, were the leading military powers in the Western world. Sweden had also been considered, but the kingdom had reservations. The British were also hesitant. De Gaulle, seeing an opportunity to expand France's sphere of influence, sent diplomats Maurice Couve de Murville and Michel Debré to Tokyo to conduct the initial negotiations.

 Marcel Dassault accompanied them to Japan, as the country intended to purchase a large number of aircraft for combat and transport missions.

Due to the current global security situation, Japan sought a swift conclusion to the negotiations. Within a few days, the talks were largely completed. This was made possible, in part, by the congruence of the respective demands. While the French side hoped to benefit from the booming Japanese electronics industry, Japan wanted to quickly equip its military with French equipment in order to reduce the massively increased costs of maintaining its American equipment.

The contracts were signed in Paris, where Charles de Gaulle, together with his counterpart (and successor to Ikeda) Eisaku Sato, celebrated the beginning of a new friendship in December 1964. De Gaulle referred to Japan in this context as the "third force."

The first Mirage IIIC aircraft were delivered to the Japanese armed forces in the spring of 1965. The Japanese immediately integrated them into active units and sold the released Starfighters to other countries (with the approval of the United States).

The agreement between France and Japan also stipulated that the aircraft could optionally be built under license by Mitsubishi. While the first aircraft were modified for Japanese operational conditions, Japan began producing the IIIC as the IIICJ itself in 1966. The same principle was then adopted for the Mirage V.

In 1980, the JASDF ordered 54 Mirage F-1s from Dassault, including eight two-seaters. These were built in France, but without most of the electronics, which were subsequently retrofitted by Mitsubishi. The aircraft were originally intended as an interim solution until the 2000J and 4000J were available in sufficient numbers. The F-1CJs, delivered from 1982 onward, were primarily used for anti-ship warfare and reconnaissance; however, they could also easily provide close air support. They were deployed in the 8th Hikotai and the 501st Hikotai. Their service ended in 2002 with the introduction of the new fighter variants.

 

Mirage/Mitsubishi F-1CJ, 8 HIkotai, 1982

 

501 Hikotai

[dsawan]

Nice. Last pic is cool. Hoping for a release.

[Wrench]

that 2 tone blue looks sharp on that bird!!! 

Now, we just need a to scale Gojira ....

[Flanker562]

Impressive skins!