Japan picks F-35 stealth jets to replace aging fleet

Japan picks F-35 stealth jets to replace aging fleet
Japanese Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa announced Tuesday that Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II, fifth generation multi-role fighter jet will become the Air Self-Defense Force's (ASDF) mainstay fighter.

Ichikawa said that Japan plans to acquire 42 of the jets to replace its aging fleet of F-4 Phantoms and said that based on a series of stringent evaluations the F-35 trumped potential competition from Boeing's F/A-18 Superhornet and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The defense ministry studied the F-35 and two other candidates and gave the F-35 the "highest score based on four criteria -- the aircraft's performance, cost, participation of domestic firms, and logistics support," Ichikawa said.

"Over the future, we want our aircraft to be equipped with qualities that can deal properly with the various changes facing our security environment," the defense minister added.

"The security environment surrounding future fighter jets is transforming. The F-35 has capabilities that can firmly respond to the changes," Ichikawa told reporters on Tuesday after the official announcement was made.

The defense ministry's choice was swayed by the F-35 Lightning' s superior stealth capabilities, which is second only to that of the U.S. F-22 Raptor.

In spite of being smaller than the F-22, the F-35 has a larger radar cross section, although according to reports is still only roughly equal to the size of a metal golf ball rather than the F- 22's signature, which is comparable to that of a metal marble, according to experts.

The plane is also equipped with a data link system that can share information with the latest radar, the defense ministry also noted as being an additional benefit separating the F-35 from its competitors.

The defense ministry said that the initial contract with Lockheed will be for four jets in the fiscal year beginning April 1, with the cost expected to be in the region of 8.9 billion yen ( 114 million U.S. dollars) for each jet.

Critics in the country are concerned about the potential increase of costs as the jet, which is priced about 104 million U. S. dollars per plane, is still under development.

Masaki Fukasawa, director of aircraft division at the defense ministry, said that the total cost of the 42 fighters, including maintenance and operation expenditures, however, could total in excess of 1.6 trillion yen over the next 20 years.

The ministry also added that Japan may look to increase its fleet of fifth generation stealth fighters as its current primary fighter, the F-15, is scheduled to be retired in 2020.

Ichikawa said the decision to select the F-35 was also influenced by the fact that Japanese companies can be involved in the production of the jet on home soil and provide superlative technical and logistical support as Japan's aviation industry is widely regarded as being in a technical league of its own.

For Lockheed Martin's part, senior officials from the U.S. company said that Japan could feasibly become "global suppliers to the F-35 stealth fighter program," noting however that for this to happen the Japanese government would have to rescind its decades- old ban on military exports.

In theory, if the Japanese government decided to ease its ban on exports of military equipment, Japanese contractors could bid for a myriad of lucrative defense contracts in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Japan would also, potentially, be in a position to utilize its domestic manufacturers to tap into foreign markets and make cost- effective purchases of military hardware, including ships, aircraft carriers, jets, helicopters, missiles and next-generation electronic and laser-based weapons, through wholesale purchases and production-affiliated subsidies.

The Pentagon heralded Japan's plans to bolster its air force with the U.S.-made fighter and said that the new affiliation will further aid Japan and the U.S. with joint security-related endeavors in the Asia Pacific region.

"The F-35 Program Office looks forward to strengthening partnerships with Japan, and contributing to enhanced security throughout the Asia Pacific region," the Pentagon said in an official statement, following the decision made earlier Monday by Japan's defense ministry.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

English.news.cn   2011-12-20 22:49:06              
TOKYO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua)