Japan, U.S. mulling Tokyo's participation in F-35 development+

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 Kyodo -
Japan and the United States are contemplating Tokyo's participation in a
multinational project to develop the F-35 next-generation stealth fighter,
sources from both governments said Tuesday.

The move is intended to clear the way for Japan to introduce the F-35 as its
mainstay fighter jet in the future as countries not participating in the joint
development would not be allowed to acquire it at an early date.
Tokyo's participation would be limited to developing components to be provided
exclusively to its Air Self-Defense Force so as not to conflict with Japan's
principles of banning weapons and arms-technology exports, the sources said.
The United States is considering allowing Japan to take part in the joint
development even without assurances from Tokyo that it will procure the F-35,
while Japan is looking into its participation at a working level, they said.
The F-35 is being jointly developed by the United States, Australia, Britain
and other countries. It is due to be available for operational use in the
mid-2010s. Countries involved in the joint development are expected to be able
to acquire the fighter on a preferential basis.
Japan initially aimed to acquire the U.S. F-22 stealth fighter to replace its
aging F-4EJ fighter fleet, but U.S. law currently prohibits exports of the F-22
and the United States has announced a plan to halt production of the fighter.
Japan also studied other models such as the F/A-18 and F-15FX produced by the
United States and the Eurofighter, produced by a consortium of European
manufacturers, as possible replacements for its fighter fleet.
The government is likely to incorporate the plan to acquire the F-35 in new
defense policy guidelines and a medium-term defense buildup plan, which will be
adopted in December next year.
The government led by the Democratic Party of Japan, which took power following
a landslide victory in the August general election, decided in October to delay
adoption by one year partly to fully reflect the policies of the DPJ and its
coalition partners.
==Kyodo
2009-12-29 23:52:05