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Tel: +44 (0)20 7429 4000 Fax: +44 (0)20 7429 4001To nd a stockist near you,visit http://www.airforcesmonthly.comUS-Japanese co-operation in the Asia Pacifi c:
a pair of USAF B-52H bombers, assigned to
the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, from
Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, participate
in bilateral training with JASDF F-15J fi ghters
on July 26. The bombers were deployed to
Andersen AFB, Guam, as part of Continuous
Bomber Presence (CBP ) operations. USAF/
Master Sgt E Taylor WorleyComment
Next Issue
On sale from October 18Thomas Newdick
Email at:
[email protected]he Japan Air Self-Defense Force
(JASDF) is seeking to introduce a new
fighter around 2030 to succeed the
service’s Mitsubishi F-2 fleet. Contractors in
the US and UK are looking on with interest.
Lockheed Martin has offered to co-develop
Tokyo’s next-generation fighter. Described
by Japanese media as, “an upgraded version
of the F-22”, the project would provide
the Japanese defence industry with more
than 50% of development and production
work. Previously, Washington had been
unwilling to export the Raptor to Japan
due to the risk of technology leaks to rival
powers. At the same time, Lockheed is
offering a similar fighter design to the US Air
Force, defined as an F-22/F-35 “hybrid”.
The company’s proposal to Japan is likely
to incorporate significant local industrial
involvement. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
(MHI) would provide the wings, while
Mitsubishi Electric would be responsible foravionics. Compared with the Raptor, the
new fighter would offer increased range and
stealth coatings that are easier to maintain.
Meanwhile, the Japan MoD is also in talks
with the UK over a potential joint fighter
project. Japanese Minister of Defense Itsunori
Onodera confirmed an “exchange of opinions”
between the two countries. Any such
proposal would almost certainly be based
on the Tempest future fighter, unveiled at the
Farnborough International Airshow in July.
Japan first flew an indigenous X-2 stealth
technology demonstrator – developed by
MHI – in April 2016. Work is also under way
on the IHI XF9-1 engine that could provide a
production fighter with a powerplant similar
to the F-22’s F119. Increasingly, however, the
Japan MoD is looking to collaborate with a
foreign partner in its combat aircraft plans.
Back in February the Japan MoD’s Acquisition,
Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) issued
its latest request for information (RFI) forfuture air combat technologies to support
its F-3 project. BAE Systems, Boeing,
Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman
are all thought to have responded.
At this stage Tokyo isn’t ruling out any
options. As well as joint development of
a new warplane, it could still pursue an
indigenous fighter programme, tailor a
new aircraft based on an existing (foreign)
design or buy an off-the-shelf solution.
Whatever form Tokyo’s future fighter
programme takes, it’s notable that Japan,
the UK and US – all F-35 customers- are already planning for the next
generation of combat aircraft.
US or UK could help build
Japan’s new fi ghter
T
http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #367 OCTOBER 2018 // 303 Comment AFM Oct2018.indd 3 9/10/2018 1:11:15 PM