OKINAWA, Japan — A U.S. Navy salvage team embarked a contracted vessel and departed Okinawa on April 24 to aid Japanese-led search-and-recovery operations for a downed Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II jet fighter, the U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs said in a release.
DSCV Van Gogh is a multipurpose diving support and construction vessel equipped with Navy remotely operated vehicles and a Navy towed-pinger locator (TPL-25) system.
The F-35A aircraft went missing about 85 miles east of Misawa Air Base on April 9.
From April 9 to April 17, the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) and P-8A Poseidon aircraft joined JASDF forces, searching about 5,000 square nautical miles. Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flew 182 hours.
The missing Japanese F-35A was not located.
- VMUT-2 begins assembly of the first 2nd MAW MQ-9A Reaper - April 18, 2024
- CORAS Rolls Out Early Release of Driver Trees Tool - April 18, 2024
- VMM-268 Marines Prepare for Marine Rotational Force Darwin - April 18, 2024
