Very, very interesting....
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-defence-lockheed-exclusive/exclusive-lockheed-martin-to-propose-stealthy-hybrid-of-f-22-and-f-35-for-japan-sources-idUSKBN1HR0MMSo what would such a hybrid look like? I'd imagine they are looking at taking an F-22 type air frame and engines and pairing that with the more modern and capable F-35 systems. That would certainly make for one helluva fighter capability.
The next question...if the Japanese elect to develop these, what are the chances the U.S. might decide to purchase some of them as well to supplement our own rather paltry fleet of Raptors? With Japan footing the bill for development, it would seem like a great opportunity for the U.S. and other nations to obtain 5th Gen fighters with higher end A2A capability than the F-35 at a reasonable cost.