WASHINGTON —

Japan and the United States are contemplating Tokyo’s participation in a multinational project to develop the F-35 next-generation stealth fighter, sources from both governments said Tuesday. The move is intended to clear the way for Japan to introduce the F-35 as its mainstay fighter jet in the future as countries not participating in the joint development would not be allowed to acquire it at an early date.
   
Tokyo’s participation would be limited to developing components to be provided exclusively to its Air Self-Defense Force so as not to conflict with Japan’s principles of banning weapons and arms-technology exports, the sources said.
   
The United States is considering allowing Japan to take part in the joint development even without assurances from Tokyo that it will procure the F-35, while Japan is looking into its participation at a working level, they said.
   
The F-35 is being jointly developed by the United States, Australia, Britain and other countries. It is due to be available for operational use in the mid-2010s. Countries involved in the joint development are expected to be able to acquire the fighter on a preferential basis.
   
Japan initially aimed to acquire the U.S. F-22 stealth fighter to replace its aging F-4EJ fighter fleet, but U.S. law currently prohibits exports of the F-22 and the United States has announced a plan to halt production of the fighter.
   
Japan also studied other models such as the F/A-18 and F-15FX produced by the United States and the Eurofighter, produced by a consortium of European manufacturers, as possible replacements for its fighter fleet.
   
The government is likely to incorporate the plan to acquire the F-35 in new defense policy guidelines and a medium-term defense buildup plan, which will be adopted in December next year.

© 2009 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

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11 Comments

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  goddog at 08:49 AM JST - 30th December

  Good deal, let them split the cost.

• 

  MrUSA at 08:54 AM JST - 30th December

  Just buy the Rafale

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  moshiso7 at 11:44 AM JST - 30th December

  It's called strategy as well, these deals will discourage any counties' stealth fighter development as it'll be more developed than anything else out there except F-22.

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  apecNetworks at 05:31 PM JST - 30th December

  I have my own conclusions on this, but will present a possible peek at what may be discussed in the ASDF. Chief of Staff Gen. Kenichiro Hokazono:

  http://two--plus--two.blogspot.com/2009/01/asdf-chief-suggests-non-us-fighter.html xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  "On 17 October 2007, Japanese Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba confirmed that Japan may buy the Typhoon. Although the F-22 Raptor was in his words "exceptional", it was not "absolutely necessary for Japan", and the Typhoon was the best alternative."

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurofighter_Typhoon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  Have analyzed this for sometime, and a good option for Japan's ASDF is:

  "In July 2009, Former Chief of Air Staff for the Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy said that "The Eurofighter Typhoon is an excellent aircraft. It will be the backbone of the Royal Air Force along with the JSF".["

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurofighter_Typhoon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  To YuriOtani:

  Because of your comment on the EuroFighter, I examined it even closer, and the licensing is pretty good for the ASDF, and you probably know, Japan developing a fighter production infrastructure is highly recommended by me.

  We'll all see how this plays out.

  Ciao.

• 

  stirfry at 06:18 PM JST - 30th December

  i'd let the locals paint the finished product, nothing more

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  oscaralho at 08:58 PM JST - 30th December

  USA are afraid of losing a captive market. Japan should buy Eurofighter, while developing a fighter production infrastructure as soon as possible.

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  oscaralho at 09:03 PM JST - 30th December

  It´s inadmissible and unbelievable Japan haven´t in the current days an own industry of defense.

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  TheMarion at 11:06 PM JST - 30th December

  Just another step toward Japan having their own Imperial Military. As if we don't already feel the Self Defense Force's already surpass anything in Asia. I say again, that Japan is breeding a scab on their nose. For those who are not informed _ Japan have already move unto every Base in Okinawa and when we move off Okinawa, it leaves Japan's SDF (?) in charge - lo the poor Ryukyuan!

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  OssanAmerica at 12:00 AM JST - 31st December

  Anyone who actually believes that post-war Japan, which sits next to the largest militarily equipped dictatorship in Asia, and is the largest base for US forces in the region, has any chance of going back to the Imperialism of the early 20th century needs to get their brains examined.

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  Chinesee at 08:45 AM JST - 1st January

  TheMarion: "...As if we don't already feel the Self Defense Force's already surpass anything in Asia..." Are you crazy, out of your mind?

  OssanAmerica: great post buddy!

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  apecNetworks at 04:53 PM JST - 1st January

  To TheMarion:

  You may have to pick up a book/internet site to update your perception of what is evolving in the Asia-Pacific region. The changes are fast, significant and accelerating. Changes that use to occur in decades are now occurring in a matter of a few years. It is the 21st Century.

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