U.S. State Department Approves Massive $23 Billion Sale Of F-35s To Japan

FILE PHOTO: A U.S. Air Force pilot takes off in his Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings to participate in a combat power exercise, after he formed up in an "elephant walk" exercise at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, U.S. January 6, 2020. REUTERS/George Frey

Reuters: US gives the green light to Japan’s massive $23B F-35 buy

WASHINGTON — The United States on Thursday approved a planned purchase by Japan of 105 F-35 joint strike fighters, moving the country one step closer to becoming the biggest foreign customer of the Lockheed Martin-produced jet.

The approved package includes 63 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing aircraft and 42 F-35 short takeoff and landing variants, essentially green-lighting the procurement plans spelled out by Japan in 2018.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale, which is worth about $23 billion, although that number could change during negotiations between the country and Lockheed Martin. Those negotiations would start after Congress approves the sale.

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More News On Japan Buying 105 F-35 Fighter Jets for $23.1 Billion

State Department approves $23.1B sale of 105 F-35s to Japan -- UPI
Japan cleared to buy 105 Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters for $23bn -- Flight Global
Over 100 F-35 Fighter Jets to Be Sold to Japan for More Than $23.1 Billion, Pentagon Says -- Sputnik

A Look Inside Japan's New Air Force One

Japan's new 777 Air Force One and former 747 Special Airlift Group - MOD

Forbes: Now On Display: Japan’s Air Force One Boeing 747 Interior

For nearly three decades a pair of Boeing BA 747s transported Japan’s prime ministers and imperial family around the world. The high-profile missions were deemed sensitive enough that the aircraft interior was not disclosed. But now Japan’s Air Force One private 747 state residence is on public display.

The VIP room was in the 747’s nose, a cosy area since the fuselage tapers and there is nothing in front, not even the cockpit (that’s upstairs). This area usually housed premium cabins on commercial 747s, but first class looks crowded compared to Japan’s Air Force One.

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WNU Editor: Picture gallery is here.

Japan Facing Challenges In Developing Its Next-Generation Fighter

The Air Self-Defense Force's next-generation fighter, which will replace the F-2, will feature new technologies such as stealth capacity for evading enemy radar and electronic warfare capability. | AIR SELF-DEFENSE FORCE / VIA KYODO

Japan Times: Japan faces challenges in developing next-generation fighter jet

The Defense Ministry aims to seize the initiative on the development of a next-generation fighter jet, but it faces a host of technological and cost challenges.

The Air Self-Defense Force’s next-generation fighter, which will replace the F-2, will feature new technologies such as stealth capacity for evading enemy radar and electronic warfare capability.

With the ministry prioritizing joint development with the United States, it is uncertain whether Japan can take control of the development.

If Japan is in control, it will be able to conduct upgrades and maintenance at its own convenience.

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WNU Editor: So much for those who believe this future Japanese fighter will be superior to the F-35 ..... Japan's 6th Generation Stealth Fighter Is Going To Blow The F-35 Away (National Interest).

Japan Wants To Develop Their Own Stealth Fighter

Prototype of the first Japan-made stealth fighter is pictured at a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' factory in Toyoyama town

Reuters: Exclusive: Japan favors home-grown design for next-generation fighter after rejecting foreign plans: sources

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan wants to develop a stealth fighter domestically, rejecting designs from Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co in the United States and Britain's BAE Systems PLC, three sources with knowledge of the program told Reuters.

That would put Japan's leading defense contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, in the lead for a military contract worth more than $40 billion. The company has not submitted a design for the next-generation fighter, but developed Japan's stealth fighter technology demonstrator, the X-2, in 2016.

"Japan's stealth designs have performed well in tests so far," said one of the sources, who has knowledge of discussion about the new proposed plane, referred to as the F-3 or F-X.

A spokesman for Mitsubishi Heavy said the company would work with the government on whatever policy it decided to follow.

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WNU Editor: They have the means and resources to do it. 

Japan’s Ministry of Defense Has Revealed A Concept For A Next-Gen F-X ‘Godzilla’ Fighter

Concept Art of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force's future F-X Fighter. Japanese Ministry of Defense

Sputnik: Photo: Japan’s Ministry of Defense Reveals Concept for Next-Gen F-X ‘Godzilla’ Fighter

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has been quietly laying plans for a new stealth fighter to replace the F-2, one capable of outclassing the numerically superior Chinese air force. Nicknamed the “Godzilla” fighter by observers due to its size, the Mitsubishi F-X is expected to enter service in 2035.

‘Godzilla’

Tokyo has moved to advance the Future Fighter concept aircraft toward a more concrete program that can yield a usable fighter, changing the name to the “F-X” program, releasing new concept art of the aircraft envisioned and setting aside some $256.5 million in fiscal year 2020 for "F-X related research projects" and "conceptual design in Japan-led development.”

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WNU Editor: They are still far away from having such a fighter, but the Japanese are starting to fund such a fighter.

Japan To Purchase 150 F-35s

The Air Self-Defense Force’s F-35A fighter jet is shown at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture in February. Pool photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun

Business Insider: Japan is loading up on F-35s for an aircraft carrier meant to check China

* Japan plans to purchase 147 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, Keitaro Ohno, parliamentary vice minister of defense for Japan's ruling party, revealed Wednesday.
* 107 F-35As will replace an aging fleet of F-4 and F-15 fighters, and 40 B variants are expected to serve aboard refitted Izumo-class destroyers.
* The focus, according to Ohno, is responding to China in the Pacific.

Japan is apparently considering tripling its original F-35 order "to respond to China in the Pacific," a senior defense official in the Japanese parliament revealed Wednesday.

Japan plans to purchase as many as 147 F-35s to replace Japan's aging fleet of F-4 and F-15 fighters, as well as significantly enhance the combat capabilities of Japan's maritime forces, Keitaro Ohno, parliamentary vice minister of defense for Japan's ruling party, explained Wednesday, confirming rumors that have been circulating for weeks.

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WNU Editor: This is a major purchase.

More News On Japan's Decision To Purchase 150 F-35s

Japan’s potential buy of 100 more F-35s would have big international significance -- Defense News
Japan moves forward on F-35 buy, aircraft carrier transformation -- Military Times
Upgrade Would Arm Japan With First Aircraft Carriers Since World War II -- The New York Times
Japan plans to purchase nearly 150 F-35 fighter jets from the US -- VOX
Japan Triples Its F-35 Order: Stealth fighters to replace 99 F-15s -- War Is Boring
The Best Defense? Japan’s Controversial F-35 Carrier Upgrade Confirmed -- Sputnik
Japan Is Dumping the F-4 Phantom for the F-35 (And It’s a Big Deal) -- Michael Peck, National Interest

Japan Wants To Buy More F-35s

The Air Self-Defense Force’s F-35A fighter jet is shown at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture in February. Pool photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun

Japan Times/Yomiuri Shimbun: More F-35As eyed to counter China

The government is considering procuring about 20 additional F-35A stealth fighter jets for the Air Self-Defense Force, starting from as early as fiscal 2020, in a bid to counter China’s rapidly expanding air power, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

The procurement plan will be stated in the next Medium Term Defense Program for fiscal 2019-23, which is slated to be compiled by the end of this year, according to sources close to the government. The newly acquired aircraft will be added to the F-35As to be deployed based on the government’s current plan, establishing the fleet of about 60 F-35As. Twenty fighter jets normally constitute a squadron.

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WNU Editor: The arms race continues in Asia.

Japan's First Woman Fighter Pilot Will Be Flying An F-15

BBC: Japan's first woman fighter pilot to blaze a trail in skies

A Japanese woman will be flying through the glass ceiling as she becomes her country's first female fighter pilot.

First Lieutenant Misa Matsushima, 26, will begin duty on Friday having completed her training to fly F-15s, Japan's military has announced.

"As the first female (fighter) pilot, I will open the way," she told reporters.

Japan's air force began recruiting women in 1993 - except as fighter jet and reconnaissance aircraft pilots. It lifted that final ban in late 2015.

"Ever since I saw the movie Top Gun when I was in primary school, I have always admired fighter jet pilots," the graduate of Japan's National Defence Academy told journalists.

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WNU Editor: To my Japanese readers .... it is about time.

Japan Wants A Better Fighter Than The F-35

Abraham Ait, The Diplomat: Why the F-35 Isn’t Good Enough for Japan

Tokyo looks to American and indigenous alternatives as a result of the joint strike fighter’s shortcomings.

During the Cold War, Japan’s Air Force deployed some of the most advanced aerial warfare capabilities in the world. The country’s large economy and strategic importance to the U.S.-led alliance network led it to be provided with the most elite American made fighters available. While lower tier U.S. allies such as South Vietnam and the Philippines were provided with lighter second generation F-5 fighters, Japan was sold large numbers of the heavy F-4 Phantom and was even permitted to jointly produce the fighters domestically. Japan went on to become an early operator of the fourth generation F-15, one of only three U.S. allies sold advanced air superiority variants of the fighter alongside Israel and Saudi Arabia. Most U.S. allies had to make do with the lighter and less capable F-16.

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WNU Editor:  Talk about a total lack of confidence in the F-35. The above analysis bluntly outlines the reasons why the F-35 will not be able to meet Japan's aviation needs.

Japan Wants Lockheed To Build A F-22/F-35 Hybrid

Reuters: Exclusive: Lockheed Martin to propose stealthy hybrid of F-22 and F-35 for Japan - sources

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp plans to offer Japan a stealth fighter design based on its export-banned F-22 Raptor and advanced F-35 Lightning II aircraft, two sources said.

Lockheed has discussed the idea with Japanese defense ministry officials and will make a formal proposal in response to a Japanese request for information (RFI) after it receives permission from the U.S. government to offer the sensitive military technology, said the sources, who have direct knowledge of the proposal.

The decision on whether to release parts of the highly classified aircraft designs and software to help Japan stay ahead of Chinese advances will test President Donald Trump’s promise to overhaul his country’s arms export policy.

The proposed aircraft “would combine the F-22 and F-35 and could be superior to both of them,” said one of the sources.

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WNU editor: Not going to happen .... Lockheed Martin Wants to Merge an F-22 and F-35 Into 1 Fighter for Japan. It Won't Happen. (Dave Majumdar, The National Interest)

More News On Japan Wanting Lockheed To Build A F-22/F-35 Hybrid

Japan Wants Lockheed Martin to Make an F-22/F-35 Hybrid -- Popular Mechanics
Lockheed Martin to offer F-22/ F-35 hybrid for Japan: report -- The Hill
Lockheed to offer ‘superior’ F-22, F-35 hybrid jet to Japan as air rivalry heats up -- Asia Times
Lockheed Should Restart the Raptor Line If Japan Wants An F-22-F-35 Hybrid -- The Drive
Japan Asks Lockheed Martin to Craft Hybrid F-35 and F-22 Aircraft -- Sputnik
Lockheed Martin to offer Japan stealth fighter jet ‘superior to F-35’ -- RT

Is Japan's Air Force The Best In Asia?

Japanese Air Self Defense Force maintainers work on a F-15J fighter upon arrival for Cooperative Cope Thunder at Elmendorf Air Force Base, May 27, 2003 . Cope Thunder is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, air combat training exercise held up to four times a year. The June 5-20 exercise represents the first time the JASDAF has deployed fighter aircraft to any exercise outside of Japan. More than 1,675 people will participate at Elmendorf and Eielson Air Force Bases, including approximately 980 U.S. service members and 695 service members from Thailand, Singapore, Republic of Korea, India and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. About 275 people from the JASDF will participate. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown)

Charlie Gao, National Interest: Japan's Air Force: The Best in Asia?

With tensions rising all over Asia, Japan has been embarking on a program of rearmament in order to take a more proactive posture in the region. One of the critical pieces in this puzzle is the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). The JASDF fields a wide variety of aircraft, most American made. However, Japan’s indigenous technology industry has produced many upgrades for these aircraft, making them more capable than the originals in some aspects. They are also one of the only nations that still operates the venerable F-4 Phantom II, a jet the United States last used in the Vietnam War.

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WNU Editor: The Japanese are spending the money .... Exclusive: Japan to buy at least 20 more F-35A stealth fighters - sources (Reuters).