Japan cleared to buy Lockheed Martin F-35
The potential F-35 deal is the second largest foreign military sale approved by Washington in history. It is only surpassed by a $29.4 billion sale of Boeing F-15SA fighters and associated weapons to Saudi Arabia in 2010.
Tokyo requested 63 examples of the F-35A conventional take-off-and-landing variant and 42 examples of the F-35B short-take-off-and-vertical-landing variant (STVOL), the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said as part of a notice delivered to the US Congress on 9 July. Also, part of the sale are 110 Pratt and Whitney F135 engines, including five spare turbines.
The fighters will come with an electronic warfare and command system; control, communications, computers and intelligence, navigation and identification system; the F-35 Autonomic Logistics’ Global Support System; the F-35 Autonomic Logistics’ Information System; a flight mission trainer and F-35 unique infrared flares, amongst other undisclosed subsystems and features.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region,” said a US Defence Security Cooperation Agency spokesman. “It is vital to US national interest to assist Japan in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-defence capability.” Japan is ordering the F-35B for its two aircraft carriers of the Izumo-class. Originally built as helicopter carriers, the Izumo and Kaga are to be retrofitted with reinforced and heat-resistant decks to handle the fixed-wing aircraft. Although Japan has a final assembly and check-out facility for the F-35, aircraft for this prospective order are to be built in Fort Worth, Texas. Apparently, there are not any known offset agreements as part of the deal. The sale of F-35s to Japan is not yet completely finalised and still requires acceptance by Tokyo.