Japan considers buying European fighter jet

[Owais]

Japan considers buying European fighter jet
Reuters | Mar 19, 2007
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TOKYO (Reuters): Japan is considering the Eurofighter Typhoon as a replacement for some of its ageing fighter jets, in what would be a surprise move for a country that has hitherto relied on the United States for combat aircraft.

The Defence Ministry is examining its options as it plans to start replacing its fleet of 60 F-4 fighters as well as training aircraft in the next couple of years, the defence ministry said.

"Of course we are considering the Eurofighter among other options," a spokesman at the Defence Ministry said.

The Eurofighter is built by a consortium headed by BAE Systems, Europe's largest defence firm.

The Rafale fighter jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France, was also under consideration, the ministry spokesman said.

The U.S. Congress has banned exports of its most advanced and most expensive fighter jet, the F-22A, built by Lockheed Martin (LMT.N: Quote, Profile , Research) and Boeing (BA.N: Quote, Profile , Research), possibly pushing Japan to seek other options.

"We understand that the F-22A is an amazing aircraft," the Defence Ministry spokesman said. "Approval would be needed from Congress, and that may be a factor."

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer said last week that Europe made good fighter planes, but that interoperability should be a factor in the decision.

"The more interoperability, the greater your ability to have an effect on the battlefield," he told reporters in Tokyo.

Japan and the United States have agreed to step up cooperation between their armed forces in the face of rising regional tensions after North Korea's nuclear and missile tests last year.

In their first deployment overseas in February this year, a group of Raptors on their way to the Kadena airbase on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa were delayed by several days because of software problems.

DefenceTalk

 

[Janbaz]

Why don't they comission more F-2 jets derived from the F-16, Japan is not a very offensiveminded nation and with the North Korean nuclear program shut, i believe they do not require new platforms for their airforce, just focus on ground based defence. Since the U.S is present in a lot of places in the Pacific, no need to worry plus they have the South Koreans too.

 

[Neo]

F-2 sucks! Its overprised and airframe is still reported to be instable.
They donot require another platform but replacement of older types is due very soon.

 

[Adux]

Japan Should come out of their self imposed pacifist mind and stand against China. Japan is said to be offered the F-22.

 

[Neo]

Japan Should come out of their self imposed pacifist mind and stand against China.

It can not be done unless the constitution is revised. I'm not sure if the yourger generation is willing to do that.

Japan is said to be offered the F-22.

They should go for it, not many countries will have access to this exculsive technology.

 

[Munir]

Though Japan is used tro counter China and has been training at this time with F22 it is still far away to get F22... But there are developments... It depends how fast the danger from China and North Korea will affect Japanese minds.

Anyway. Japan did say that it did not rape women during World War II.. A shame for a nation that used to act humble. Maybe they need another nuclear bomb to get their heads cleaned. They rewrote thier history... They are lying about their actions. Shame... A big shame.

 

[HAIDER]

Americans have based the first batch of F22 in Japan, but didn t offer them.