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Japan to have world’s second-largest F-35 fleet

10th July 2020 - 11:33 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Christchurch

RSS

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in the US gave a green light on 9 July to a Japanese request to purchase 105 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters.

The price tag is not for a squeamish chancellor of the exchequer, however – the FMS deal comes to an eye-watering total of $23.11 billion, which includes all manner of accessories and even ferry and tanker support for delivery from the US.

This equates to a unit price of $220 million for each aircraft, though of course the cost includes more than just the airframe.

The potential sale is broken down into 63

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Gordon Arthur

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Gordon Arthur

Gordon Arthur was the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media. Born in Scotland and educated …

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