(VOVworld)- Japan and the US on Wednesday scheduled a joint exercise using multi-mission MV-22 Osprey aircraft which the US has deployed to the Futenma Marine air station, in Okinawa, Japan.

Multi-mission MV-22 Osprey aircraft. Photo: www.naval-technology.com

The joint military exercise could be conducted in February and March next year to strengthen the defense capability of Japanese islands including the disputed island Senkaku, called Diaoyu by China. In another development, on Tuesday, an official of Japan’s Defense Ministry said that the US has deployed P-A8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft to the military base on Okinawa. This is the first time the US has deployed this type of aircraft overseas. The plan is being implemented as part of an agreement between Washington and Tokyo to replace the out-of-date P-3C Orion for anti-submarine warfare. The US has deployed 2 P-A8 aircrafts to the US air force base in the town of Kadena and will deploys 4 more in the next few weeks.