The Japanese Government has awarded the first set of contracts to three domestic companies for participation in the joint production of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF) aircraft for the national air self-defence force.
Valued at a combined JPY87.7bn ($894m), the contracts will see IHI Corp and Mitsubishi Electric manufacturing engine and radar parts, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will lead the final assembly process, GlobalPost reports citing a Japan Defence Ministry statement.
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The contract values of MHI, IHI and Mitsubishi Electric are JPY63.9bn ($651m), JPY18.2bn ($185m) and JPY5.6bn ($57m) respectively.
The contracts follow the government’s decision announced in March this year, to allow local companies to join F-35 parts production on the condition that the US will strictly control shipments.
With plans to purchase a total of 42 F-35s for introduction as the country’s next-generation mainstay fighter, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has already negotiated the acquisition of two aircraft with US under the fiscal 2013 state budget, according to the news agency.
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Acquired at an estimated cost of JPY23bn ($234m), the aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Japan in March 2018.
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By GlobalDataJASDF intends to use four F-35 fighters, which are scheduled to be purchased by March 2017, for pilot training purpose in the US.
Currently under development in three variants by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 JSF is a fifth-generation multirole fighter aircraft designed to conduct an array of ground attack, reconnaissance and air defence missions with stealth capability.
The variants include a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft for USAF and allied air forces, a short takeoff and landing (STOVL) fighter for the US Marine Corps (USMC) and the Royal Navy, and a carrier version (CV) for the US Navy.
Image: Japan intends to acquire a total of 42 F-35 fighter aircraft from US. Photo: file image.
