Hey, Japan’s Skies Are Getting a F‑35 Upgrade!
Strap in, folks! Japan’s Air Self‑Defense Force (ASDF) is about to double down on the sleek, stealthy F‑35A fighter jets. Here’s the low‑down on why the trickle‑down from a U.S. factory will save them heaps of cash and keep their rivals guessing.
Why Buy From America?
- Cost‑Cutting Genius: Each F‑35A arrives fully rolled out for roughly $100 million. In Japan, that’s about $30 million cheaper per plane compared to building locally.
- Speedy Delivery: Lockheed Martin’s “final assembly and check‑out” plant in the U.S. can snatch up the orders faster than the Mitsubishi plant in Kobe.
- Half the Work, Another Half the Glory: Less local manufacturing means more time freeing up the Japanese workforce for other cool projects.
What’s Already in the Tower?
Japan kicked off with an order of 42 F‑35As last year. Most of those fell from the sky thanks to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ assembly line in Japan. And there’s a role‑player: an Italian plant run by Leonardo Spa. Those are the only two non‑U.S. gates for the jet’s final polish.
Future‑Proofing the Pacific Skies
With China’s stealth swarm growing and North Korea’s missile train spurring, Japan’s strategy becomes a tightrope between “stay avaricious” and “keep it secret.” The F‑35 airframe offers a primal edge.
They’re also flirting with the F‑35B (the VTOL variant). If they get flying from tight island airstrips or super‑chlorophyll ships like the Izumo‑class carriers, Japan could slice through their rival’s sky walls like a sushi chef slicing sashimi.
Top‑Secret, No‑Lightning‑Fast Decisions
On a Tuesday news briefing, Itsunori Onodera said, “We haven’t made a plan yet; we’re still playing hide‑and‑seek with what fighter we need.” He’s reminding us that the Ministry will unpack two defense reviews by year‑end, detailing the next five‑year “big‑bang” procurement saga.
First Off‑Duty & The Ceremony
The inaugural F‑35A sits now at Misawa Air Base in the chilly northern corner of Japan. A launch ceremony, starring government honchos and Lockheed Jedi masters, will be held there soon. This first jet will kick out the old‑school F‑4 Phantoms (a vintage 1960s relic) and make way for the still‑bright 200 F‑15s that have been the country’s pronoun for “We’ve got eyes on the ground.”
Lockheed’s Global Empire
Lockheed Martin takes pride in the F‑35, which makes up about a quarter of its revenue bonafide. The company’s Tennessee factory is ramping up workforce to 1,800 and expects a worldwide jet list of >3,000. By 2023, they plan to triple their annual production to >160 jets.
Japan’s Daring F‑3 Dream
While they’re in the boat with the F‑35, the Japanese engineering brigade is sniffing around building their own F‑3 stealth fighter. But with development costs soaring like a stock market in a bubble, they’ll likely need a partner or two to avoid falling into a debt pitfall.
Bottom line: Japan’s air defense is about to get a huge upgrade, and the world’s had better keep offering hot dogs again as they fend off potential flying foes!
