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  KumaNiku at 10:49 PM JST - 9th June

  The F 35 is by far the best choice for Japan, with the Typhoon next in line. Why? Because the F 35 is and will be widely supported, truly multirole and unlike the vaunted F22 a proper 5th Generation fighter. Its design and capabilities reflect a new conceptualization of Air Power whereas the F22 is a holdover (albiet an impressive one) of Cold War design and thinking. The F35 also has huge development potential, much, much more than the F22 along with a significalt design and technological advantage over any potential regional 'adversaries'.

  As others have pointed out, there is the small issue of the F22 going out of production, USAF difficulties supply thier current numbers with spares (particularly the electronics) and the high unit cost - which make the acquisition of the F22 (if by some perverse decision to allow Japan to have it) militarily and economically stupid.

  Japan must look at what it needs, not what it wants for the sake of having it.

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  mushroomcloud at 11:49 PM JST - 9th June

  ‘‘As of today, we still want to seek the F-22.’’

  And as of tomorrow, if Japan gets the F-22, JASDF officers in the know will sell the technical secrets of this aircraft to Chinese espionage, just as they have done with other top secret US defense technology (think AEGIS) in the past.

  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070829a1.html

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  Shumatsu_Samurai at 12:21 AM JST - 10th June

  KumaNiku

  How can the F-35 be the best choice for Japan if the F-4s need replacing before the former can be produced for the ASDF? The F-35 will be a very useful multi-role fighter, but the simple fact is that as Japan has not already got involved in the F-35 project it is unlikely to get deliveries in time. The F-15s can be upgraded, but the F-4s will have to be retired.

  Typhoon would be available much sooner (some existing operators might even be willing to sell Japan some of their inventory), and newer blocks have a significant air-to-ground capability. But, for the purposes of replacing just the F-4s, I think a fighter with more of a priority towards air-to-air combat is what Japan needs. Typhoon fits the ticket. The F-35 could replace the F-15s in the future.

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  Hurtado at 12:50 AM JST - 10th June

  they should import russian really...

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  HonestDictator at 01:52 AM JST - 10th June

  I think the F-35 is the best choice strategically because it seems to be a more balanced "all around" aircraft. Wanting the F-22 just because they want to feel cool is not good reason enough for the US to opent the doors on it.

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  Fadamor at 02:27 AM JST - 10th June

  Just to set the record straight, Toshiba didn't sell the propeller schematics for U.S. submarines. They sold milling machines that could make propellers AS QUIET as the propellers on U.S. submarines.

  The U.S. is naturally reluctant to let their cutting-edge stealth technology leave their positive control. I doubt Japan will be able to buy an F-22 until the U.S. finds something better in the way of stealth... maybe when they develop their Romulan Cloaking Device. :-)

  Japan is perfectly in their rights to desire what they feel would be the best aircraft for the job they envision, but unless they are building the aircraft themselves they are going to have to accept that their priorities will be trumped by the producing nation's priorities.

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  1keiron at 02:57 AM JST - 10th June

  Stuff the U.S. Buy some MiGs from the Russians instead :D

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  Fadamor at 03:01 AM JST - 10th June

  Sure, but again, they're going to get Russia's second-line equipment (if even that). Especially as Japanese/Russian relations aren't that amicable because of the islands dispute.

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  flatearther at 05:41 AM JST - 10th June

  Shumatsu Samurai- You're right. It's still a decent buy, though. Worth every penny if the US will sell it to you.

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  flatearther at 05:44 AM JST - 10th June

  P.S- It does air-to-sea, too.

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  UnagiDon at 07:51 PM JST - 10th June

  Important fact missing from this article, and esp. for those pointing out that the US has already axed the F-22 program, that may not be true;

  U.S. lawmakers said exploring F-22 version for Japan

  • Mon Jun 1, 8:13 pm ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee is considering requiring the U.S. Air Force to study the viability of creating an export version of the Lockheed Martin Corp F-22 fighter jet, a source closely following the issue told Reuters on Monday.*

  http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090602/plnm/uslockheed_f22

  And about Japan leaking data, kinda sucks then re the F-35 as the US has has allegedly lost sensitive data after being hacked;

  http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/blog/computing/it/riskfactor/f35jsfaircraftprogram_pene

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  Starviking at 11:19 PM JST - 10th June

  @flatearther

  The F-22 is an air-to -air and air-to-ground assault aircraft. However, the term "striker" has come to refer to any fighter flying a sortie.

  First, the F-22 is primarily an air-to-air aircraft - the air-to-ground mission was tagged well after the design was settled. It is a fighter - not an assault aircraft.

  I've never hear of the term "striker" in official use. "Strike Aircraft" and "Attack Aircraft" yes, "striker" no.

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  Starviking at 11:30 PM JST - 10th June

  @flatearther

  P.S- It does air-to-sea, too.

  If you're talking about the F-35 or the F-22, for AFAIK the F-22 isn't cleared for any anti-ship weapons.

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  flatearther at 10:26 PM JST - 13th June

  @Starviking- I can only assume that you have 0 connection to anyone who would fly these planes then, right?
  I assure you, they are referred to as strikers in UNofficial use, which I did state in my original post. Again, I also stated that the air-to-ground capability is secondary. Please read posts before replying, it would save me a lot of time.
  Yes, it has air-to-sea capability.

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  Starviking at 12:53 AM JST - 14th June

  Really flatearther?

  Tell me this - what weapon will it use for it's air-to-sea capability?

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