# Indo-Pacific
Latest news and articles about Indo-Pacific
Total: 8 articles found
As AUKUS Stalls, Analysts Float B-2 Purchase as a Stopgap for Australia’s Deterrent Gap
With the AUKUS submarine programme facing mounting delays and political hurdles, some Western analysts have proposed Australia acquire US B‑2 stealth bombers as an alternative means of long‑range deterrence. The proposal highlights the gap between strategic ambitions and procurement realities, but faces steep legal, logistical and political barriers that make it unlikely as a straightforward solution.
Boeing Withdraws Active Pursuit of F‑15EX Sale to Indonesia, Casting Doubt Over High‑Profile Deal
Boeing said it is no longer actively pursuing construction of F‑15EX fighters for Indonesia, casting doubt on a 2023 agreement for 24 jets that required U.S. government approval. The development signals friction between commercial plans and political clearance processes, with implications for Indonesia’s procurement choices and U.S. influence in the Indo‑Pacific.
After 15 Years, the Kennedy’s Sea Trials Highlight a Growing U.S.–China Carrier Gap
The John F. Kennedy began sea trials in January 2026 after a 15‑year build that highlights persistent technical and industrial challenges in the U.S. Ford‑class programme, notably the unreliable EMALS catapult. China’s carrier programme, which reportedly started construction of a Type 004 nuclear carrier in 2026, is advancing more rapidly, raising questions about future balance of naval power in the Indo‑Pacific.
U.S. Gears Misawa Base to Host 48 F-35A Stealth Fighters, Signalling a Pacific Posture Shift
The Pentagon is preparing Misawa Air Base in Japan to host 48 F-35A stealth fighters to replace 36 F-16s, part of a 2024 modernization plan. The upgrade strengthens U.S.-Japan deterrence, requires significant base infrastructure and will reverberate across regional strategic dynamics.
Japan’s Quiet Rearmament: How a Surge in ‘Security Aid’ Is Remaking Its Regional Role
Japan’s OSA security‑aid programme has expanded rapidly in scale and scope, with the 2026 budget jumping to 18.1 billion yen and recipient lists growing across the Indo‑Pacific. Originally framed as non‑lethal capacity‑building, OSA is being used to normalise overseas defence ties, create defence industrial linkages and potentially open the door to more offensive exports if legal constraints are loosened.
US Navy Says New 'Trump‑Class' Warship Is Nothing Like Old Battleships — and That Matters
A senior U.S. Navy official says talk of a ‘‘Trump‑class’’ battleship should not be read as a return to World War II‑style gun platforms, but as a push for a new kind of large surface combatant built around modern strike, sensors and survivability. The comments highlight strategic, industrial and political debates about the future shape of American naval power in the Indo‑Pacific.
Stalled $8bn Submarine Deal Exposes Limits of India’s Push for Local-Built AIP Fleet
Negotiations for a roughly $8 billion deal to build six German Type 214 submarines in India, including full technology transfer, stalled during a recent German chancellor’s visit. The impasse underscores the technical, legal and political difficulties of deep defence co‑operation and leaves India’s ageing submarine fleet vulnerable to capability gaps and regional competitors who can procure faster or cheaper alternatives.
South Korea Clears Development Tests of KF-21 Fighter, Mass Production Set to Begin This Year
South Korea's KF-21 fighter has completed its development flight tests and is slated for production deliveries in the second half of the year, DAPA announced. The milestone strengthens Seoul's aerospace industry and defense capabilities but still leaves practical challenges—certification, sustainment and integration—to be resolved before the jet significantly alters regional force balances.