Forum: Program and politics

Quote:

Japan has ordered an initial batch of four Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) hopes to buy a total of 42 of the stealthy fifth-generation fighters to replace its geriatric fleet of McDonnell Douglas F-4J Kai Phantoms.

"Lockheed Martin is honored that Japan's Ministry of Defense and the United States Government have signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the first four of 42 F-35A Lightning II 5th Generation multirole fighters," Lockheed says.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... 5s-373704/

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Scroll down BTM of this page: http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopi ... rt-75.html

To see on 29th June 2012 news already posted.

It seems to me that due to northern summer a lot of 'old' news is being reposted as news 'today'. Or maybe everyone is at the Farnborough Air Show getting the same old same old news regurgitated ad nauseam. Even Wheeler gets in on the price act but someone else can post that.

spazsinbad wrote:

Scroll down BTM of this page: http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopi ... rt-75.html

To see on 29th June 2012 news already posted.

It seems to me that due to northern summer a lot of 'old' news is being reposted as news 'today'. Or maybe everyone is at the Farnborough Air Show getting the same old same old news regurgitated ad nauseam. Even Wheeler gets in on the price act but someone else can post that.

I thought it wasn't 'confirmed' until the actual contract is signed by DoD and the Japanese government, as orders have been changed/cancelled before. That is the 'update' Very Happy

What did *change* was a clarification of pricing for the four aircraft, which is different from what Defense News reported and linked:

"Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced that it has agreed to buy 4 Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) at a cost of $128.61 million each [vs. $120m @DN], an increase of $3.7 million over the $124.83 million (vs. $110m @DN] price negotiated last December. The four aircraft are scheduled for delivery in Fiscal Year 2016.

A formal letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) was signed in Japan on 29 June and includes four conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variants of the F-35, spare parts, and two simulators for a total of $756.53 million. Although the base price of the aircraft itself increased, the cost of the spare parts and two simulators dropped from an initial estimate of $258.48 million to $240.83 million, a significant savings for Japan."

http://defense-update.com/20120704_japa ... price.html

Sooo....basically Japan got the system for the exact same price as before. Sounds like Japan saved a total of $2mil.

I can't wait to see how this turns out. Japan isn't one to tolerate the sort of incompetence I've come to expect from LM. Either LM will finally get its act together, or they're gonna fall flat on their faces. At this point, I give it 50/50 that the Japanese program will make it past initial testing.

I see Mr. Wheeler is found: "...Even Wheeler gets in on the price act but someone else can post that."

Wheeler: GAO understates JSF cost growth
http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-19987.html

About the new thread for the price/order confirmation for Japan. I just sneezed. Can I start a new thread?

Japan, US close to signing deal on F-35 workshare By Jon Grevatt Nov/7/2012

http://www.janes.com/products/janes/def ... 1065973116

"Japan and the United States are close to finalising the workshare arrangement supporting the production of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defence Force.

A spokesman from the Japan Ministry of Defence (MoD) told IHS Jane's on 31 October that the two parties are negotiating the details of the workshare, which covers specifics related to the components that Japanese industry will produce under licence, and that a conclusion is expected to be finalised by the end of 2012.

Japan agreed in December 2011 to purchase four F-35As, with deliveries from 2016, and plans to eventually acquire 42 aircraft. While initial F-35As are likely to be built by prime contractors in the United States, the Japan MoD expects aircraft scheduled to be purchased from Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) to be constructed in collaboration with Japanese industry.

"With regards to the F-35As that are to be procured after FY13, it is planned that the ministry will procure aircraft manufactured through participation of domestic industries," the MoD spokesman said."

No point going to URL but if you want to buy the article....

Japan to make F-35 parts Friday, November 09, 2012

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1 ... F-35-parts

"TOKYO: Japan will allow domestic firms to take part in production of the F-35 fighter, the first such case since Tokyo last year relaxed a self-imposed ban on arms exports, a report said Thursday.

Japanese firms will make up to 40 percent of parts that will be used in the stealth jet from 2017, the Yomiuri Shimbun said in its evening edition, without citing sources."

That's it.

spazsinbad wrote:

Japan to make F-35 parts Friday, November 09, 2012

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1 ... F-35-parts

"TOKYO: Japan will allow domestic firms to take part in production of the F-35 fighter, the first such case since Tokyo last year relaxed a self-imposed ban on arms exports, a report said Thursday.

Japanese firms will make up to 40 percent of parts that will be used in the stealth jet from 2017, the Yomiuri Shimbun said in its evening edition, without citing sources."

That's it.

One wonders if/how-soon the rest of such export barriers might come down. The Japanese defense industry has a lot to offer the world if it's allowed to do so, and the liberalization of Japanese military export could eventually mark a seismic shift in the free-world's defense industry.

Some of the more tempting all-Japanese offerings might include:

C-2

P-1

ATD-X (now referred to as "F-3"), a possible F-35 competitor that the Japanese have suddenly become more serious about (maybe). http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 507747.xml

Forum: Program and politics

Japan orders initial batch of four F-35s