Typhoon Could Trump F35 As Japan's Primary Fighter

Fighter jets built in the U.S. have been Japan's military aircraft of choice for many years, but with lengthy program delays and potential technology transfer restrictions, Tokyo is considering a pitch from Eurofighter for the Typhoon.

In a deal that could be worth over $10 billion, the four countries which make up the Eurofighter consortium feel they have a shot at getting the Japanese business despite  long-standing ties between the U.S. and Japan.

The Japanese government has been deliberating for years about which airplane would replace its fleet of fighters as they reach the end of their service life. The F-35 and F/A-18 have both been considered front-runners because of the relationship between the U.S. and Tokyo, and ABC News reports that some analysts say that advantage is still strong.

Part of Eurofighter's sales pitch is that Japan really wanted to by the F-22 Raptor, a deal the U.S. decided not to make, and that the Typhoon is ready now, rather than wait for the long-delayed F-35.

Japan eventually expects to buy 40-50 new fighter jets, and Japanese officials have been increasingly concerned about military modernization programs in both China and Russia.

FMI: www.mod.go.jp/e/index.html