Summary Japan plans to send pilots to Russia this year to study the navigational and weapon launch systems, as well as, the radar technology of Russian Su-27 fighter planes. The Su-27, which has also been recently acquired by China, was developed to counter the U.S. F-15, which Japan has in its inventory. This comes at an interesting time when Russia's new strategic partner, China, has expressed anxiety over Japanese statements that claim it has a legitimate option to engage in a pre-emptive strike on any nation that Japan believes is a threat to its national security. China and Russia have also strengthened their ties in the face of a U.S. initiative to develop a Theater Missile Defense (TMD) system, and make it available to our allies along the Pacific rim.