The Defense Agency has no plan to replace Air Self-Defense Force F-4 fighters on standby against possible airspace violations, even though their 20mm cannons are empty after a jet accidentally strafed a city in Hokkaido earlier this week, agency Vice Minister Ken Sato said Thursday.
The ASDF has unloaded live rounds from the 20mm cannons on all F-4 EJ Kai fighters deployed nationwide, including those ready for emergency takeoff at bases in Misawa, Aomiri Prefecture and Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Sato confirmed at a news conference.
The ASDF has already said that an investigation team found a glitch in an electrical circuit of the F-4 jet in question, causing it to inadvertently fire its cannon when the control stick is moved to a certain point.