Mon, Feb 10, 2014
Long-Range Defense Plans Reveal Little About Actual Acquisition
Japan's defense forces are still flying 1960's-era F-4J Kai Phantoms, and two years ago, the Japanese government said it would buy F-35 fighters to modernize their air defenses. But two documents recently released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) outlining mid- and long-range defense plans make little mention of acquisition of the aircraft.
A five-year Mid-Term Defense Plan specifies the purchase of 28 F-35s through fiscal year 2018, but the 10-year document says only that the county will boost its fighter inventory by 20 aircraft, from 260 to 280, according to a story appearing in Defense News.
In 2011, the Japanese MoD agreed to eventually deploy 42 of the aircraft, which would seem to be in agreement with the shorter-term acquisition of 28 airplanes. Thirty-eight of those would be assembled in Japan, according to the report. But the vague reference to increasing its fighter inventory by 20 airplanes in the long-term outlook raises doubts about Japan's ability to come up with the money to purchase the aircraft.
The midterm document also indicates that Japan will purchase 17 Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft, three Global Hawk UAVs, and other military hardware.
Among the issues is the rising cost of the airplane. The Japanese MoD is also concerned about the eventual replacement of some 200 F-15J and 90 F-2 fighters. Defense analyst Shinichi Kiyotani told Defense News that one reason for the vague language on fighter replacement is that the MoD truly does not know if it can afford more F-35s to replace the F-15s.
(F-35 pictured in file photo)
More News
Maximum Authorized Altitude A published altitude representing the maximum usable altitude or flight level for an airspace structure or route segment. It is the highest altitude on >[...]
Aero Linx: Soaring Safety Foundation (SSF) The Soaring Safety Foundation (SSF) is the Training and Safety arm of the Soaring Society of America (SSA). Our mission is to provide ins>[...]
From 2013 (YouTube Version): Dracula Lives On Through Kyle Franklin... and We're NOT Scared! ANN CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Jim Campbell speaks with Aerobatic and airshow master, Kyl>[...]
“For Montaer Aircraft it is a very prudent move to incorporate such reliable institution as Ocala Aviation, with the background of decades in training experience and aviation>[...]
Also: ForeFlight Upgrades, Cicare USA, Vittorazi Engines, EarthX We have a number of late-breaking news highlights from the 2024 Innovation Preview... which was PACKED with real ne>[...]