Latest news with #F-15
Asahi Shimbun
2 days ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Estimated cost to upgrade ASDF's F-15s rises 150% to 1 trillion yen
The estimated cost of equipping the Air Self-Defense Force's F-15 fighter jets with 'standoff missiles' capable of hitting enemy bases has surged to more than 1 trillion yen ($6.7 billion), sources told The Asahi Shimbun. That is more than 1.5 times the Defense Ministry's initial estimate, and the increase will likely delay deployment of the upgraded aircraft, currently scheduled for fiscal 2027, the ministry sources said. The upgrade plan is a pillar in the Self-Defense Forces' efforts to strengthen its response capabilities to China's maritime expansion. The U.S. military started operating the F-15 in the 1970s. Of the 200 F-15s owned by the ASDF, 68 relatively newer models will be upgraded with the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) with a range of about 900 kilometers. The plan also calls for installing new radar and electronic warfare equipment on the fighter jets. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. will upgrade the aircraft with technical cooperation from Boeing Co. of the United States. The F-15s are expected to be operational until around 2050. In fiscal 2021, the Defense Ministry calculated the estimated cost of upgrading and testing the 68 aircraft at 646.5 billion yen. However, rising expenses for development tests, the weakened yen and inflation prompted the ministry to re-estimate the cost. It was 1.16 trillion yen as of March this year. The F-15 upgrade plan began in fiscal 2019, and it was revised in fiscal 2021 due to ballooning costs. But even under the revised plan, costs continued to soar. Since spring, the ministry has informed manufacturers and others involved in the project that 'deployment of the upgraded aircraft, which had been scheduled for fiscal 2027, is expected to be delayed,' according to sources. They said there is a possibility the fighter jets may not be ready by fiscal 2028. On the other hand, the standoff missiles to be mounted on the F-15s have been budgeted since fiscal 2023 and are expected to be deployed in fiscal 2027 or later. 'Even if there are missiles, the fighter aircraft that will carry them may not be ready' by fiscal 2027, a ministry official said. The upgrade is being conducted under the framework of the U.S. government's Foreign Military Sales program. This allows the U.S. government to act as the negotiating intermediary based on the intentions of U.S. manufacturers and to deal with the Japanese government. Before the upgrade, 'initial expenses' are required for things such as designing the equipment to Japanese specifications and building facilities for the work. Most of these expenses are paid to the U.S. side. The Defense Ministry had appropriated 183.7 billion yen as initial expenses through the fiscal 2024 budget. Although no funds were earmarked for fiscal 2025, a senior ministry official said Japan and the United States were still working out the total amount of initial expenses and that the appropriation has not been completed. 'Once the amount is finalized, we will promptly allocate the rest of the initial expenses,' the official said. In addition, 91.9 billion yen had been appropriated for the upgrade of 20 ASDF aircraft in the fiscal 2023 budget.
2 days ago
Canadian man charged with hijacking that caused security scare at Vancouver airport
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- A Canadian man has been charged with hijacking a small plane after he caused a security scare at Vancouver's airport this week. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Thursday Shaheer Cassim, 39, has been charged with hijacking, constituting terrorism, over the incident Tuesday that saw the North American Aerospace Defense Command scramble F-15 fighter jets before the plane safely landed. The RCMP said he seized control of a Cessna at Victoria International Airport on Vancouver Island by threatening a flight instructor, before flying about 40 miles (64 kilometers) to Vancouver. 'Investigators have determined the suspect acted with an ideological motive to disrupt airspace,' said Sgt. Tammy Lobb in a statement late Wednesday. A man with the same name and who resembles Cassim posted on social media that he was a 'messenger of Allah' and a 'Messiah' sent to save humanity from climate change. He said 'the Angel Gabriel appeared before me and gave me a message from Allah.' Cassim's last post warns about 'abrupt runaway global warming' that will cause humans to go extinct within a few years. Cassim also said in the post that he is 'Sam Carana,' who runs the 'Arctic News' blog that describes itself as a place where contributors 'all share a deep concern about the way climate change is unfolding in the Arctic and the threat that this poses for the world at large.' His Facebook profile says he was employed from 2008 to 2010 by now-defunct KD Air, a small airline based on Vancouver Island. The airline's former owners, Diana and Lars Banke, said in an interview Wednesday that Cassim was one of the smartest and best pilots they ever worked with, calling him a fast learner who was highly intelligent. But Lars Banke said Cassim left the airline after getting 'bored' and then went to medical school. He also said Cassim believed the world was coming to an end. Diana Banke said she was 'very surprised' to hear of Cassim's charges, saying he was quite young when he worked for them and was 'like a kid.' Lars Banke said he recalled that Cassim was somewhat interested in environmentalism, but he was unaware of any kind of religious beliefs. 'He never spoke religion with us,' Diana Banke said. 'I'm really surprised that he would've done something like this,' she added. In 2012, Cassim held a news conference before going on a cross-country bicycle ride to raise awareness for global warming. British Columbia Premier David Eby said when asked about the incident Thursday that it was a 'bizarre moment,' and the fact that it ended without a more significant disruption at the airport is a 'testament' to the skill of responders who talked the suspect down.
The Province
2 days ago
- The Province
Ex-pilot called himself Messiah on climate-change mission, day before alleged Victoria hijack
RCMP say the suspect had an 'ideological motive' and allegedly seized control of the plane at Victoria International Airport after threatening a flight instructor Published Jul 17, 2025 • Last updated 39 minutes ago • 4 minute read A Cessna 172 sits on the tarmac at Vancouver International Airport. Reports of a plane flying erratically were made on Tuesday afternoon. Photo by SynSyx/Reddit The day before the suspected hijacking of a light aircraft triggered a security scare at Vancouver's airport this week, former commercial pilot Shaheer Cassim posted on social media that he was a 'messenger of Allah' sent to save humanity from climate change. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors A 39-year-old man with the same name has now been charged with hijacking, constituting terrorism, over the incident on Tuesday that saw Norad scramble F-15 fighter jets before the Cessna safely landed. A doctor registered in B.C. with the same surname as Cassim said the hijacking suspect had struggled with mental health issues for many years and had been 'failed' by the mental health system. The man was unwilling to comment on his relationship with the accused, and said questions about Cassim should be directed to Island Health. RCMP said the suspect seized control of a Cessna at Victoria International Airport by threatening a flight instructor, before flying to Vancouver. 'Investigators have determined the suspect acted with an ideological motive to disrupt airspace,' said Sgt. Tammy Lobb in a statement late Wednesday. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Images posted on social media of the arrest of the Cessna's pilot on the airport's north runway show a bearded man who resembles Cassim, whose online posts include musings on religion, climate science, and advocacy for tolerance and peace. He says 'the Angel Gabriel appeared before me and gave me a message from Allah.' 'I am a messenger of Allah. I am the Messiah sent to save humanity from climate change and usher in an era of world peace,' Cassim said on Facebook on Monday. His profile says Cassim attended high school in Lloydminster, Alta., before studying aviation at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Cassim's last post warns about 'abrupt runaway global warming' that will cause humans to go extinct within a few years. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Cassim also says in the post that he is 'Sam Carana,' who runs the 'Arctic News' blog that describes itself as a place where contributors 'all share a deep concern about the way climate change is unfolding in the Arctic and the threat that this poses for the world at large.' It includes hundreds of posts since 2011, many of them highly technical, with the latest entry made on Saturday and titled: 'Will humans go extinct soon?' A Facebook account under Carana's name has more than 4,000 followers. The Arctic News blog lists more than 30 contributors, including prominent academics from universities in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Peter D. Carter, who founded the environmental website Climate Emergency Institute in 2009, has interacted with Carana on social media. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'He's a bit of a mystery,' said Carter, who lives in Victoria, adding that he had never met Carana in person. Carter is listed as a contributor on Arctic News but he denied contributing. That someone might hijack a plane in the name of climate change was 'absolutely absurd,' Carter said, although he hoped people could see past this for the urgent need to address the issue. 'Our problem is that there's next to no interest in climate change out there,' Carter said. 'Over the years, recent years, the public interest in climate change has been dropping, dropping, and dropping.' Stanford University Prof. Mark Z. Jacobson, who researches global warming and its solutions, is also listed as an Arctic News contributor. He said in an e-mail that Carana contacted him sporadically between 2013 and 2018 on climate issues, and in 2020 wrote 'one four-word comment on a post I posted on Facebook,' Jacobson said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Otherwise, I can't find any other communication with him.' He also said he had never met Carana. In 2012, Cassim held a news conference before going on a cross-country bicycle ride to raise awareness for global warming. His Facebook profile says he was employed from 2008 to 2010 by now-defunct KD Air, a small airline based on Vancouver Island. The airline's former owners, Diana and Lars Banke, said in an interview on Wednesday that Cassim was one of the smartest and best pilots they ever worked with, calling him a fast learner who was highly intelligent. But Lars Banke said Cassim left the airline after getting 'bored' and then went to medical school. He also said Cassim believed the world was coming to an end. Diana Banke said she was 'very surprised' to hear of Cassim's charges, saying he was quite young when he worked for them and was 'like a kid.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Something would (have to) be going on that's not normal,' Lars Banke said. 'He was, I would say, a caring person.' Diana Banke said she remembered Cassim 'doing a really long bicycle trek,' and that he brought a dog along with him. Lars Banke said he recalled that Cassim was somewhat interested in environmentalism, but he was unaware of any kind of religious beliefs. 'He never spoke religion with us,' Diana Banke said. 'I'm really surprised that he would've done something like this,' she added. B.C. Premier David Eby said when asked about the incident on Thursday that it was a 'bizarre moment,' and the fact that it ended without a more significant disruption at the airport is a 'testament' to the skill of responders who talked the suspect down. Read More Vancouver Canucks Local News News Sports News
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Ex-pilot called himself Messiah on climate-change mission, day before alleged Victoria hijack
The day before the suspected hijacking of a light aircraft triggered a security scare at Vancouver's airport this week, former commercial pilot Shaheer Cassim posted on social media that he was a 'messenger of Allah' sent to save humanity from climate change. A 39-year-old man with the same name has now been charged with hijacking, constituting terrorism, over the incident on Tuesday that saw Norad scramble F-15 fighter jets before the light plane safely landed. RCMP say the suspect had an 'ideological motive' and allegedly seized control of the plane at Victoria International Airport after threatening a flight instructor, before flying to Vancouver. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. B.C. Premier David Eby said when asked about the incident that it was a 'bizarre moment,' and the fact that it ended without a more significant disruption at the airport is a 'testament' to the skill of responders who talked the suspect down. Images posted on social media showing the arrest of the Cessna's pilot on the airport's north runway show a bearded man who resembles Cassim. In his Facebook post on Monday, Cassim says he's the 'messiah sent to save humanity from climate change and usher in an era of world peace.' Cassim also says in the post that he also goes by the name Sam Carana and runs the Arctic News blog. A Facebook account under the name and title has more than 4,000 followers. Cassim warns in the post about 'abrupt runaway global warming' that will cause humans to go extinct within a few years. On its website, the Arctic News blog describes itself as a place where contributors 'all share a deep concern about the way climate change is unfolding in the Arctic and the threat that this poses for the world at large.' The blog lists more than 30 contributors in addition to 'Sam Carana' himself, a list that includes several academics from prominent universities in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. His blog includes hundreds of posts since 2011, many of them highly technical, with the latest entry made on Saturday. It is titled: 'Will humans go extinct soon?' In 2012, Cassim held a news conference before going on a cross-country bicycle ride to raise awareness for global warming. His Facebook profile says he was employed from 2008 to 2010 by now-defunct KD Air, a small airline based on Vancouver Island. The airline's former owners, Diana and Lars Banke, said in an interview that Cassim was one of the smartest and best pilots they ever worked with, calling him a fast learner who was highly intelligent. But Lars Banke said Cassim left the airline after getting 'bored' and then went to medical school. He also said Cassim believed the world was coming to an end. Diana Banke said she was 'very surprised' to hear of Cassim's charges, saying he was quite young when he worked for them and was 'like a kid.' 'Something would (have to) be going on that's not normal,' Lars Banke said. 'He was, I would say, a caring person.' Diana Banke said she remembered Cassim 'doing a really long bicycle trek,' and that he brought a dog along with him. Lars Banke said he recalled that Cassim was somewhat interested in environmentalism, but he was unaware of any kind of religious beliefs. 'He never spoke religion with us,' Diana Banke said. Cassim's online posts include musings on religion, climate science, and advocacy for tolerance and peace, including a claim 'the Angel Gabriel appeared before me and gave me a message from Allah.' 'I'm really surprised that he would've done something like this,' Diana Banke said. His Facebook profile says Cassim attended high school in Lloydminster, Alta., before studying aviation at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
Japan Flags "Serious" Chinese Military Moves, Xi Hosts Australia PM, US Sends F-15 To Frontline Base
Japan has said that China's intensifying military activities could "seriously impact" its security citing the first confirmed incursion by a Chinese military aircraft into its airspace in an annual threat assessment. The defence ministry said in its white paper that China was ramping up its activities in the entire region surrounding Japan. A Chinese military aircraft entered Japan's airspace in August last year, it said. Since then, Tokyo has accused Beijing of regularly sending aircraft and warships near its territorial boundaries. Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Albanese is on his second visit to China as prime minister, seeking to bolster recently stabilised trade ties even as geopolitical tensions remain high. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION2:40 CHINA-AUSTRALIA TIES3:58 CHINA WARNS JAPAN ON SENDING DESTROYERS TO PHILIPPINES 7:05 US MOVES F-15 JETS CLOSER TO TAIWAN
