Japan firms up on F-35B orders
Japan’s MoD formally approved the purchase of 42 Lockheed Martin F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighters on 16 August.
At that time, the MoD stated ‘the F-35B satisfied all the requirements for the Air Self-Defense Force’s short-range take-off and vertical landing fighter’. This statement provides the clue that these jets will be operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) rather than by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
The government will set aside sufficient funds to buy 18 aircraft through to the end of FY2023, and each F-35B will cost about JPY14 billion ($130 million) each
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