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Tony Capaccio
For Tony Capaccio's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
A Ukrainian serviceman stands next to a Starlink antenna near Bakhmut, Ukraine.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 10, 2024
Pentagon reveals SpaceX contract for Starlink in Ukraine costs $23 million
A U.S. official characterized the service as a vital part of the security assistance the U.S. is providing to Ukraine.
Virginia-class attack submarine USS Hawaii passes by Diamond Head crater on Oahu in Hawaii in July 2009.
WORLD
Apr 3, 2024
U.S. attack submarines to counter China are up to two years late
Delivery dates for Virginia-class subs are an estimated 24 to 36 months past the contracted dates
A law requires the Pentagon to inform Congress and extensively justify any program when costs exceed the original estimate by 15%, 25% or as much as 50% depending on the categories measured.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 15, 2023
New U.S. ballistic missile costs risk project termination
A U.S. Air Force review will take about 45 days before a determination is made as to whether the ICBM program exceeds congressional cost thresholds.
Ukrainian soldier fire a mortar near Kyiv on Nov. 8.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 13, 2023
Pentagon has a workaround to send Ukraine arms despite aid stalemate
The tactic: Continue to provide arms from U.S. stockpiles in hopes of waiting until later for the money to replace them.
Spectators watch as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off with a payload of 21 Starlink satellites from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 27.
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 7, 2023
Starlink arctic test paves way for U.S. government contracts
Smooth performance under extreme conditions makes satellite service a crucial asset in an increasingly vital area of competition with Russia and China.
Smoke rises from Gaza following an explosion on Wednesday.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 15, 2023
U.S. sending ammo and missiles to Israel on 'near-daily basis'
Washington is providing bunker-busting M141 munitions, small-diameter bombs, 155 mm artillery shells, laser-guided missiles, night-vision kit and vehicles
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet during a preview of the Singapore Airshow in Singapore in February 2022
WORLD / Politics
Sep 24, 2023
F-35s are rarely flight-ready and repairs are too slow, GAO says
The Marine Corps’ goal for availability of its F-35B is 85%. Instead, the "mission capable” rate for F-35B training jets in 2022 was about 55%.
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, flies past during a preview at the Singapore Airshow in Singapore in 2022.
WORLD
Sep 19, 2023
Debris field found in search for missing U.S. F-35 fighter jet
The military had asked for civilian help in finding the F-35B Lightning II jet that suffered a "mishap” on Sunday afternoon
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 10, 2023
Documents in Trump indictment were among nation’s most closely guarded
The fresh revelations will unsettle allied nations that share such classified information with the U.S., experts said.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 7, 2023
New U.S. spy satellites to track Chinese and Russian threats in orbit
The U.S. Space Force is set to launch a constellation of satellites this summer to track Chinese or Russian space vehicles that can potentially disable or damage orbiting objects.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 24, 2023
Taiwan won’t get U.S. F-16s until 2024 thanks to problems beyond COVID
Complex developmental challenges have been encountered, and the U.S. government, Taiwan and Lockheed are actively working to mitigate delays.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
May 6, 2023
U.S. submarines are popping up more often and it's not clear why
A U.S. nuclear-armed sub will make a publicly announced visit to South Korea within months, prompting debate about the wisdom of a heightened public role for the 'silent service.”
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 18, 2023
Taiwan to buy 400 U.S. anti-ship missiles intended to repel China invasion
Taiwan has previously purchased ship-launched versions of the Harpoon missile, which is made by Boeing.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 29, 2023
Hypersonic missile test by U.S. Air Force set back by loss of in-flight data
The transmission failure and loss of data in the March 13 exercise wasn’t reported in an official statement, and may hinder efforts to catch up with China and Russia in a key capability.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 1, 2023
U.S. Navy struggling to counter China's rise as warship repairs limit time at sea
The problems included increased delays in depot maintenance and 'growing numbers of cannibalizations,” according to a congressional assessment.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 25, 2023
U.S. and Germany set to send tanks to Ukraine, breaking deadlock
The move will give President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s forces access to a significant new capability as the fighting in Ukraine shifts from urban centers to the east.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 19, 2022
China has put longer-range ICBMs on its nuclear subs, U.S. says
China has fielded the new missiles on its six nuclear-powered submarines, letting it hit the continental U.S. from much closer to its own shores, the U.S. acknowledged for the first time.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 28, 2022
Pentagon’s strategy won’t rule out nuclear use against nonnuclear threats
China remains Washington's 'most consequential strategic competitor for coming decades,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a letter presenting the new defense strategy.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 9, 2022
F-35 deliveries to resume after Chinese alloy prompted halt
U.S. law and Pentagon acquisition regulations prohibit the use of specialty metals or alloys made in China, Iran, North Korea or Russia.
Japan Times
WORLD
Sep 10, 2022
F-35s all contain banned China-made alloy, Pentagon says
The F-35 program — which may result in over 3,300 jets — will now seek a national security waiver from the Pentagon's top acquisition official.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on