Japan, France to hold first-ever joint fighter jet drill next week

PHOTO CAPTION: A Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J Eagle assigned to the 201st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Chitose Air Base takes off at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 17, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and France will hold their first-ever joint fighter jet drill from July 26-29, Japan's Air Self-Defence Force said on Tuesday.

The exercise, scheduled to take place in Japan, is aimed at deepening bilateral defence cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Japanese air force said in a statement.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

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