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Lockheed gets Japan deal for 42 F-35 jets
Source: Agencies |
December 21, 2011, Wednesday
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JAPAN selected the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter yesterday to replace aging jets in its air force and bolster its defense capability.
"Our decision on the next-generation fighters was an extremely important one for our national security, and we wanted to acquire fighters with solid capability," Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa said.
"The security environment surrounding Japan remains unstable and uncertain in many ways, and it is crucial to ensure peace and independence of our country," Ichikawa told a news conference in Tokyo.
Japan is buying 42 of the aircraft under a multiyear deal. The Defense Ministry is requesting a budget of 55.1 billion yen (US$706.9 million) for the first four fighters next fiscal year, which starts in April.
Lockheed said details including the exact timing of deliveries, prices of future planes and quantities per year have yet to be finalized.
Japan wrestled for years over whether to buy the F-35, Boeing F-18 or the Eurofighter Typhoon, made by a consortium of European companies.
The F-35, also called the Joint Strike Fighter, is the United States' Pentagon's biggest weapons procurement program - costing US$238 billion - and has support from allies, including Britain, Australia, Canada, Israel and several European nations. It is to be used by the US Air Force, Marines and Navy.
The decision is going to deeply impact security throughout the region for decades to come.
Washington is Tokyo's main ally, and roughly 50,000 US troops are stationed in Japan under a security pact. Japan's air force must work closely with its American counterpart, and using the same or similar equipment makes that easier.
The US Embassy in Tokyo said the deal would lead to new jobs in both countries. It estimated about 10,000 jobs would be created in the US alone.
Winning the Japan contract is a major victory for Lockheed Martin, which is aggressively pushing the F-35 abroad. Though the program has been criticized for cost overruns and delays, the company says that eventually several thousand could be produced.
Japan - with 362 fighter jets, mostly F-15s, F-4s and F-2s - is already one of the top air powers in the region. But planners have long been concerned by the increasing age and expense of maintaining the fleet, along with Japan's ability to match the improving air capabilities of its neighbors.
The new fighters would replace the F-4s.
"Our decision on the next-generation fighters was an extremely important one for our national security, and we wanted to acquire fighters with solid capability," Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa said.
"The security environment surrounding Japan remains unstable and uncertain in many ways, and it is crucial to ensure peace and independence of our country," Ichikawa told a news conference in Tokyo.
Japan is buying 42 of the aircraft under a multiyear deal. The Defense Ministry is requesting a budget of 55.1 billion yen (US$706.9 million) for the first four fighters next fiscal year, which starts in April.
Lockheed said details including the exact timing of deliveries, prices of future planes and quantities per year have yet to be finalized.
Japan wrestled for years over whether to buy the F-35, Boeing F-18 or the Eurofighter Typhoon, made by a consortium of European companies.
The F-35, also called the Joint Strike Fighter, is the United States' Pentagon's biggest weapons procurement program - costing US$238 billion - and has support from allies, including Britain, Australia, Canada, Israel and several European nations. It is to be used by the US Air Force, Marines and Navy.
The decision is going to deeply impact security throughout the region for decades to come.
Washington is Tokyo's main ally, and roughly 50,000 US troops are stationed in Japan under a security pact. Japan's air force must work closely with its American counterpart, and using the same or similar equipment makes that easier.
The US Embassy in Tokyo said the deal would lead to new jobs in both countries. It estimated about 10,000 jobs would be created in the US alone.
Winning the Japan contract is a major victory for Lockheed Martin, which is aggressively pushing the F-35 abroad. Though the program has been criticized for cost overruns and delays, the company says that eventually several thousand could be produced.
Japan - with 362 fighter jets, mostly F-15s, F-4s and F-2s - is already one of the top air powers in the region. But planners have long been concerned by the increasing age and expense of maintaining the fleet, along with Japan's ability to match the improving air capabilities of its neighbors.
The new fighters would replace the F-4s.
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