Japan to buy 42 F-35 jets: Breaking news

[Lankan Ranger]

Japan to buy 42 F-35 jets: Breaking news

Japan on Tuesday chose the US-built F-35 stealth jet for its next-generation mainstay fighter.

In a deal estimated to be worth more than $4 billion, Japan plumped for the trouble-plagued jet to replace its ageing fleet of F-4 fighters.

"The government shall acquire 42 units of F-35A after fiscal 2012 in order to replenish and to modernise the current fleet of fighters held by the Air Self-Defense Force," the cabinet said in a statement.

Lockheed Martin's F-35 beat off competition from two other jets -- the Boeing-made F/A-18 Super Hornet and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The government said Japanese companies would take part in building the new fighters.

The F-35 is the most expensive weapons programme in Pentagon history and has been plagued by cost overruns and technical delays.

Co-developed with British defence giant BAE Systems, the F-35 was the costliest of the three models under consideration, with a price tag estimated at $113 million per aircraft.

Japan, which places its security alliance with the United States at the cornerstone of its foreign policy, has long depended on US manufacturers for its military hardware.

Bangkok Post : Japan selects F-35 as new fighter jet

 

[Frank Martin]

No surprise at all..it was expected.

 

[Lankan Ranger]

Pentagon hails Japan's F-35 order

The Pentagon office that runs the Lockheed Martin Corp on Monday hailed news that Japan had selected the F-35 as its next generation fighter and said it would help strengthen partnerships with Japan.

"The F-35 Program Office looks forward to strengthening partnerships with Japan, and contributing to enhanced security throughout the Asia Pacific region," the office said in a statement after Japan announced its decision.

The F-35 will be operated in the Asia Pacific region by U.S. forces, as well as the Royal Australian Air Force, Japan and partner nations involved in multinational military operations.

Japan's selection of the F-35 will allow Japan's air force to operate with the United States and other partner nations, ensuring the future of cooperative deterrence and regional security, the Pentagon office said.

Pentagon hails Japan's F-35 order - chicagotribune.com

 

[Lankan Ranger]

 

[Jiang]

Do we have any information of F35's progress?

I read some senior US officials wanting to kill them program.

 

[regular]

Okay Great! let the Japan get the rubbish jet and suffer within the long run ....

 

[Luftwaffe]

Rest in peace ATD-X.

Now there is no point in developing 75 stealth Airframes ATD-X; initial 42 F-35As and rest of 75 F-35s could be ordered to completely replace F-4 Variants Fleet. I suspect the development in-house are for various extra indigenous equipment for F-35s.

F-15s are to stay till 2030 before their replacement according to JDW, so by then maybe a more modern sophisticated F-35 is available or UCAVs are available for replacements of F-15s. Japanese indigenous aviation market is badly effected.

 

[Zarvan]

TOKYO – Japan's government says it has selected the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter to bolster its aging air force.
A Cabinet spokesman says the defense ministry will buy a total of 42 fighters starting next fiscal year, which begins in April.
Japan wrangled for years over whether to buy the F-35, Boeing F-18 or the Eurofighter Typhoon. Japanese officials took into account the quality of the plane as well as close U.S.-Japan military ties, said Noriyuki Shikata, deputy Cabinet secretary for public relations.
The F-35, also called the Joint Strike Fighter, is the Pentagon's biggest weapons procurement program and has support from allies including Britain, Australia, Canada, Israel and several European nations


Read more: Japan To Buy F-35 Fighters To Boost Aging Air Force | Fox News

 

[Zabaniyah]

Rest in peace ATD-X.

Now there is no point in developing 75 stealth Airframes ATD-X; initial 42 F-35As and rest of 75 F-35s could be ordered to completely replace F-4 Variants Fleet. I suspect the development in-house are for various extra indigenous equipment for F-35s.

F-15s are to stay till 2030 before their replacement according to JDW, so by then maybe a more modern sophisticated F-35 is available or UCAVs are available for replacements of F-15s. Japanese indigenous aviation market is badly effected.

FB-22

FB-22 Fighter Bomber

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

FB-22

FB-22 Fighter Bomber

It is a cancelled project.

 

[Mosamania]

FB-22

FB-22 Fighter Bomber

This will replace the F-15Es not the F-15C/Ds.

 

[Zabaniyah]

It is a cancelled project.

It's still in proposal stage.

This will replace the F-15Es not the F-15C/Ds.

Yup.

I just posted it so that people know that there may be a replacement for the F-15E. Yes, that's a maybe.

 

[Mosamania]

It's still in proposal stage.



Yup.

I just posted it so that people know that there may be a replacement for the F-15E. Yes, that's a maybe.

Don't see it happening not anytime soon anyway. The F-22 came to replace the air superiority role of the F-15 but we all know what happened to it.

 

[Black Widow]

Don't see it happening not anytime soon anyway. The F-22 came to replace the air superiority role of the F-15 but we all know what happened to it.

Agree with you. I don't see future for 5th generation fighters. F22 is dammn costly, there are hundreds of F15 in Airsupriority role, It will be costly affair to replace all. I think 4th generation fighters will going to stay for next 2 decades in main role.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Don't see it happening not anytime soon anyway. The F-22 came to replace the air superiority role of the F-15 but we all know what happened to it.

Agree with you. I don't see future for 5th generation fighters. F22 is dammn costly, there are hundreds of F15 in Airsupriority role, It will be costly affair to replace all. I think 4th generation fighters will going to stay for next 2 decades in main role.

The last F-22 was produced on the 13th of this month.
Warplanes: The Last F-22

I think for now, they'd be focusing on replacing their F-16s, F-18s, F-15s, Harriers and A-10s with the various variants of the F-35.

Their idea is to implement one platform for all types of roles. This makes the maintenance job easier and perhaps cheaper compared to operating many different types of aircraft.

Yep it's difficult, time-consuming, ambitious, and expensive, but a viable solution, me thinks.