Ericsson
02-21-2006, 05:46 PM
F-22 Raptors to Japan?
Posted 20-Feb-2006 10:33
Related stories: Alliances (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/alliances/), Americas - USA (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/americas_usa/), Asia - Japan (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/asia_japan/), Boeing (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/boeing/), Engines - Aircraft (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/engines_aircraft/), Fighters & Attack (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/fighters_attack/), Force Structure (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/force_structure/), Issues - International (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/issues_international/), Legal (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/legal/), Lobbying (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/lobbying/), Lockheed Martin (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/lockheed_martin/), New Systems Tech (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/new_systems_tech/), Other Corporation (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/other_corporation/)
Also on this day: 20-Feb-2006 » (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/02/20/)
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-22_10-Oc_Over_Mountains.jpg (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-22_10-Oc_Over_Mountains_lg.jpg) F-22: Climbing Mt. Fuji?
(click to view full)
Via InsideDefense.com, Inside The Air Force (ITAF) reports that momentum is building within the Air Force to sell the ultra-advanced F-22A Raptor (http://www.f22-raptor.com/) abroad to trusted U.S. allies, as a way of plussing up numbers and production. The USAF originally initially intended to purchase almost 700 F-22 fighters, but that was cut to 442, then 339, and recently cut again to just over 180. These cuts have had obvious effects on the cost per aircraft.
One of the most likely export prospects is Japan. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (http://www.jda.go.jp/e/index_.htm) (JASDF) currently has four fighter jet models in its fleet: F-15J/F-15DJ Eagles (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/f-15j.htm), its F-4EJ "Kai" (http://www.topfighters.com/aircraft-info.php?aircraft=phantom&cat=japan) and RF-4EJ reconnaissance Phantom IIs, the Mitsubishi F-2s (http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f2/) (a larger, longer-range variant on the F-16C), and F-1s. The F-1 (http://www.milavia.net/aircraft/f-1/f-1.htm) entered service in 1978 and is being replaced by F-2s; the JASDF introduced the F-4EJ in 1973, and has indicated it will begin retiring the platform some time next decade. This gives the Japanese a number of choices....
Since the F-2s will no longer be built (http://www.f-16.net/news_article1134.html), they cannot replace the F-4EJs and RF-4EJs. Japan may choose to go ahead and buy "kaizen" F-15Js at a comparable cost, and rely on attached pods like ReeceLight (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/12/dutch-air-force-orders-6-reecelight-pods-for-40m/index.php) or SHARP (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/09/update-20m-for-raytheon-to-integrate-6-sharp-recon-pods/index.php) for reconnaissance. Alternatively, it could move for a broader capability upgrade and buy a 4th or 5th generation fighter.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (http://www.jsf.mil/) would be attractive for budgetary reasons and can perform very capably in the air-air and reconaissance roles, while its set partnership model smooths technology transfer issues. Unfortunately, its single-engine design would be a concern during maritime combat air patrols, and its declared status as a strike fighter works against it in a country that's so insistent on the purely defensive functions of its weaponry.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-2s.jpg (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-2s_lg.jpg) Mitsubisihi F-2s
(click to view full)
The Eurofighter Typhoon (http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ef2000/) or Dassault Rafale (http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/rafale/) would be possibilities, and coupling them with the MBDA Meteor long-range air-air missile (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/05/meteor-missile-will-make-changes-to-accommodate-f35/index.php) might be very attractive given Japan's needs. Yet there has been no indication of interest from Japan at this stage, and such a move would mean deviating from Japan's strongly American industrial links and equipment infrastructure. That would be no small move in a society that sets such store by deep industrial relationships.
On the other hand, Japan's combination of long sea zones and growing rivalry with China make a long-range, twin-engine, supercruising (http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/2000/articles/oct_00/f-22/f22_1.html) and stealthy (http://www.ausairpower.net/air-superiority-2.html) interceptor that has unprecedented reconnaissance capabilities (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/10/supersonic-sigint-will-f35-f22-also-play-ew-role/index.php) and leverages existing Japanese partnerships with Lockheed and Boeing nearly irresistible. Seen in that light, the JASDF's interest in the F-22 is less surprising.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-15Js.jpg (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-15Js_lg.jpg) F-15Js: click to view full
A Lockheed Martin official has confirmed that a proposal to sell Japan F-22s in some form of downgraded "international variant" is working its way through the Air Force with the support of the Japanese government, and is now "at the three- or four-star level" and among civilian decision-makers. Yet the F-22's extensive and not fully-revealed capabilities have made many in the USA very nervous about exporting it, and thereby risking a security breach around its electronic architecture, stealth aspects, or next-generation data links. The aircraft's $130 million flyaway cost also makes all but the most serious buyers hesitate.
Posted 20-Feb-2006 10:33
Related stories: Alliances (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/alliances/), Americas - USA (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/americas_usa/), Asia - Japan (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/asia_japan/), Boeing (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/boeing/), Engines - Aircraft (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/engines_aircraft/), Fighters & Attack (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/fighters_attack/), Force Structure (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/force_structure/), Issues - International (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/issues_international/), Legal (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/legal/), Lobbying (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/lobbying/), Lockheed Martin (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/lockheed_martin/), New Systems Tech (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/new_systems_tech/), Other Corporation (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/other_corporation/)
Also on this day: 20-Feb-2006 » (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/02/20/)
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-22_10-Oc_Over_Mountains.jpg (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-22_10-Oc_Over_Mountains_lg.jpg) F-22: Climbing Mt. Fuji?
(click to view full)
Via InsideDefense.com, Inside The Air Force (ITAF) reports that momentum is building within the Air Force to sell the ultra-advanced F-22A Raptor (http://www.f22-raptor.com/) abroad to trusted U.S. allies, as a way of plussing up numbers and production. The USAF originally initially intended to purchase almost 700 F-22 fighters, but that was cut to 442, then 339, and recently cut again to just over 180. These cuts have had obvious effects on the cost per aircraft.
One of the most likely export prospects is Japan. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (http://www.jda.go.jp/e/index_.htm) (JASDF) currently has four fighter jet models in its fleet: F-15J/F-15DJ Eagles (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/f-15j.htm), its F-4EJ "Kai" (http://www.topfighters.com/aircraft-info.php?aircraft=phantom&cat=japan) and RF-4EJ reconnaissance Phantom IIs, the Mitsubishi F-2s (http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f2/) (a larger, longer-range variant on the F-16C), and F-1s. The F-1 (http://www.milavia.net/aircraft/f-1/f-1.htm) entered service in 1978 and is being replaced by F-2s; the JASDF introduced the F-4EJ in 1973, and has indicated it will begin retiring the platform some time next decade. This gives the Japanese a number of choices....
Since the F-2s will no longer be built (http://www.f-16.net/news_article1134.html), they cannot replace the F-4EJs and RF-4EJs. Japan may choose to go ahead and buy "kaizen" F-15Js at a comparable cost, and rely on attached pods like ReeceLight (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/12/dutch-air-force-orders-6-reecelight-pods-for-40m/index.php) or SHARP (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/09/update-20m-for-raytheon-to-integrate-6-sharp-recon-pods/index.php) for reconnaissance. Alternatively, it could move for a broader capability upgrade and buy a 4th or 5th generation fighter.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (http://www.jsf.mil/) would be attractive for budgetary reasons and can perform very capably in the air-air and reconaissance roles, while its set partnership model smooths technology transfer issues. Unfortunately, its single-engine design would be a concern during maritime combat air patrols, and its declared status as a strike fighter works against it in a country that's so insistent on the purely defensive functions of its weaponry.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-2s.jpg (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-2s_lg.jpg) Mitsubisihi F-2s
(click to view full)
The Eurofighter Typhoon (http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ef2000/) or Dassault Rafale (http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/rafale/) would be possibilities, and coupling them with the MBDA Meteor long-range air-air missile (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/05/meteor-missile-will-make-changes-to-accommodate-f35/index.php) might be very attractive given Japan's needs. Yet there has been no indication of interest from Japan at this stage, and such a move would mean deviating from Japan's strongly American industrial links and equipment infrastructure. That would be no small move in a society that sets such store by deep industrial relationships.
On the other hand, Japan's combination of long sea zones and growing rivalry with China make a long-range, twin-engine, supercruising (http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/2000/articles/oct_00/f-22/f22_1.html) and stealthy (http://www.ausairpower.net/air-superiority-2.html) interceptor that has unprecedented reconnaissance capabilities (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/10/supersonic-sigint-will-f35-f22-also-play-ew-role/index.php) and leverages existing Japanese partnerships with Lockheed and Boeing nearly irresistible. Seen in that light, the JASDF's interest in the F-22 is less surprising.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-15Js.jpg (http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_F-15Js_lg.jpg) F-15Js: click to view full
A Lockheed Martin official has confirmed that a proposal to sell Japan F-22s in some form of downgraded "international variant" is working its way through the Air Force with the support of the Japanese government, and is now "at the three- or four-star level" and among civilian decision-makers. Yet the F-22's extensive and not fully-revealed capabilities have made many in the USA very nervous about exporting it, and thereby risking a security breach around its electronic architecture, stealth aspects, or next-generation data links. The aircraft's $130 million flyaway cost also makes all but the most serious buyers hesitate.