JASDF may be in the market for more F-35s

[bring_it_on]

ou are right on the absolute range issue and it being far cheaper to develop e new missile vs redesigning a plane just to get a 6+2 config.

Personally, I have always liked the GD AAAM Proposal for not only increasing magazine size, but also increasing range and multi-mode seeker. I am lucky enough to live near the March AFB Museum where their F-14 has the GD AAAM Mock-up installed.

Yeah that was a very impressive concept. Going forward, now that they have rolled in a new missile with the broader AS2030 AOA, they are likely to seek something that creates both a HOBS, highly maneuverable close in weapon, and long range weapon requirements into one, something that will be necessary for the 5th and 6th generation fighters given the Aim9 isn't really an optimum solution for them.

[spazsinbad]

VMFA-121 helps prepare JASDF for F-35A
13 Sep 2017 Cpl. Carlos Jimenez | Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

"MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan --
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 hosted members of Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Third Air Wing for an educational tour and class centered around the F-35A Lightning II at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 13, 2017.

The tour was an effort from the Marine Corps to share knowledge and experiences of the F-35B Lightning II with the JASDF in preparation for their upcoming acquirement of the aircraft.

“The purpose of today’s tour was to bring some JASDF maintainers down from Misawa Air Base, who are expecting to get the F-35, and show them how we operate our maintenance department here in Iwakuni,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Adam Wellington, aircraft maintenance officer for VMFA-121. “We wanted to exchange ideas and answer questions for them as they prep for the arrival of this aircraft.”

JASDF personnel were given several classes regarding maintenance, serviceability, operability and more. Afterwards, they briefly toured VMFA-121’s facility, taking a peek into different departments and visiting the hangar to see, touch and study the aircraft up close.

JASDF Lt. Col. Mamoru Yamaura, F-35A Lightning II program office chief with the Third Air Wing, said even though they’re becoming increasingly knowledgeable, they’ve come to the point where they need to directly see how to operate the aircraft.

“It is very significant for us to see, meet and talk with personnel who are already operating or supporting the F-35,” said Yamaura. “This exchange program is very instructive for us. We’ve learned a lot about the F-35 and the United States Marine Corps. I believe we should have many more exchanges like this.”

Wellington attributed the success of the bilateral event to great questions posed by the JASDF personnel, the dialogue between all players involved and the fact that they are already well versed in many things about the F-35B Lightning II.

He claimed that not only was the training successful, but it deepened the relationship between them and the JASDF.

“This training enhances the relationship between the JASDF and the Marine Corps at large,” said Wellington. “That’s one of the benefits of this aircraft, it’s a joint aircraft that’s going to be used by multiple partners, including Japan. So the fact that they’re going to fly the same aircraft we’re already flying is just going to further strengthen the relationship we have with the Japanese.”"

Source: http://www.mcasiwakuni.marines.mil/News ... for-f-35a/

[neptune]

http://alert5.com/2017/09/15/assembly-o ... more-64928

Assembly of F-35As in Japan said to be running behind schedule

A report by Japan’s Board of Audit says the local assembly of F-35As by a consortium lead by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is running behind schedule. IHI Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. are tasked with engine and radar components assembly but both companies have yet to sign parts production subcontracts with the original equipment manufacturers. The board added that checks by the Defense Ministry’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency found the local companies’ manufacturing processes to be lacking

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170914/k ... 40/049000c

interpretation please!

[blindpilot]

http://alert5.com/2017/09/15/assembly-of-f-35as-in-japan-said-to-be-running-behind-schedule/#more-64928
Assembly of F-35As in Japan said to be running behind schedule ... https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170914/k ... 40/049000c

interpretation please!

My answer is "Making, assembling, or even modifying 5th Gen fighters anywhere other than Ft. Worth TX is really really hard!" That's true in Italy, Israel, or Russia, China, ... and Japan." Think Elon Musk and SpaceX. "This rocket science stuff is really hard!"

They'll get there.

MHO,
BP

[spazsinbad]

Japan aims to integrate locally produced parts into F-35s from 2018
20 Sep 2017 Jon Grevatt

"Japan is aiming to integrate locally produced parts into Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft from 2018, the Ministry of Defense’s (MoD’s) Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) disclosed to Jane’s on 20 September.

A spokesperson from ATLA also confirmed that local component manufacturing was behind schedule and that it had failed to meet a deadline to manufacture parts for the aircraft that were ordered in 2013 and scheduled to be delivered later this year.

Under the programme, IHI Corporation is licence producing parts for the F-35’s Pratt & Whitney F135 engine while Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) is manufacturing components for the aircraft’s avionics systems designed by Northrop Grumman.

In addition, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) operates a Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility but the company does not produce F-35 components.

An ATLA spokesperson said, “We planned to equip [the aircraft] with parts produced by Japanese manufacturers on F-35As contracted from fiscal year (FY) 2013, which was the second year of the contract.

“However, it was the first contract [in which] Japanese companies had become production subcontractors of US counterparts. So it took time and it became impossible to meet the deadline to use Japanese-produced parts on F-35As contracted from FY 2013.”

The spokesperson added that the MoD has undertaken a commitment to liaise closely with the US government as well as industry in integrating Japanese-produced parts into the programme. “The MoD will work with the US government and also Japanese and US manufacturers to supply Japanese parts as soon as possible for F-35As contracted from FY 2014 and thereafter.” These aircraft are scheduled to be delivered from 2018...."

Source: http://www.janes.com/article/74241/japa ... -from-2018

[nutshell]

http://alert5.com/2017/09/15/assembly-of-f-35as-in-japan-said-to-be-running-behind-schedule/#more-64928
Assembly of F-35As in Japan said to be running behind schedule ... https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170914/k ... 40/049000c

interpretation please!

My answer is "Making, assembling, or even modifying 5th Gen fighters anywhere other than Ft. Worth TX is really really hard!" That's true in Italy, Israel, or Russia, China, ... and Japan." Think Elon Musk and SpaceX. "This rocket science stuff is really hard!"

They'll get there.

MHO,
BP

It's the same reason why you can't make decent cars in the US

Btw you've a 35 years headstart with 5th gen fighters; no way you can match american expertise matured in that field.

[spazsinbad]

Other countries make F-35 bits & pieces - Oz for example - go here: https://www.f35.com/global

https://www.f35.com/global/participation/Australia & http://www.quickstep.com.au/ & http://www.quickstep.com.au/news/The-Au ... for-Profit & http://www.quickstep.com.au/files/files ... profit.jpg

[white_lightning35]

It's the same reason why you can't make decent cars in the US

Btw you've a 35 years headstart with 5th gen fighters; no way you can match american expertise matured in that field.

Ahem...

[neptune]

It's the same reason why you can't make decent cars in the US

Btw you've a 35 years headstart with 5th gen fighters; no way you can match american expertise matured in that field.

Ahem...

....beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder!

[zerion]

Exclusive: Japan to delay multi-billion dollar fighter jet development - sources
Tim Kelly, Nobuhiro Kubo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will delay a decision to develop a new advanced fighter jet, four sources said, as military planners struggle to settle on a design and officials splash out on new U.S. equipment such as ballistic missile interceptors and F-35 stealth planes...

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japa ... SKBN1DD0D4

[archeman]

Exclusive: Japan to delay multi-billion dollar fighter jet development - sources
Tim Kelly, Nobuhiro Kubo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will delay a decision to develop a new advanced fighter jet, four sources said, as military planners struggle to settle on a design and officials splash out on new U.S. equipment such as ballistic missile interceptors and F-35 stealth planes...

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japa ... SKBN1DD0D4

Perhaps they should put their focus on succeeding in a simpler project environment. An environment where the design is already completed and the plans for component production are handed to them with instructions. If they can't get that done, why bother throwing the yen down the toilet on a homegrown design.

[nutshell]

Well, the Japs might need a stronger air defense infrastructure more then a 5th gen fighter, as of now.

People seems to love to throw them long range missiles. You would totally do the same.

[Corsair1963]

Exclusive: Japan to delay multi-billion dollar fighter jet development - sources
Tim Kelly, Nobuhiro Kubo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will delay a decision to develop a new advanced fighter jet, four sources said, as military planners struggle to settle on a design and officials splash out on new U.S. equipment such as ballistic missile interceptors and F-35 stealth planes...

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japa ... SKBN1DD0D4

This nothing more than politics designed for public consumption. As Japan has had no intent to develop the X-2 (formerly ATD-X) into F-3 for sometime now......In addition Japan announced earlier this year. That in 2018 they would place an order for an additional "100" Stealth Fighters. Which, clearly means additional F-35's. Which, is hardly surprising as Japan didn't open a New Assembly Plant in NAGOYA! In order to build just "38" F-35's for the JSADF....

[XanderCrews]

Exclusive: Japan to delay multi-billion dollar fighter jet development - sources
Tim Kelly, Nobuhiro Kubo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will delay a decision to develop a new advanced fighter jet, four sources said, as military planners struggle to settle on a design and officials splash out on new U.S. equipment such as ballistic missile interceptors and F-35 stealth planes...

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japa ... SKBN1DD0D4

This nothing more than politics designed for public consumption. As Japan has had no intent to develop the X-2 (formerly ATD-X) into F-3 for sometime now......In addition Japan announced earlier this year. That in 2018 they would place an order for an additional "100" Stealth Fighters. Which, clearly means additional F-35's. Which, is hardly surprising as Japan didn't open a New Assembly Plant in NAGOYA! In order to build just "38" F-35's for the JSADF....

It's worth remembering that one narrative of the Anti F-35 crew was that ATD-X was being built because the F-35 couldn't handle air to air and the Japanese had no faith in the F-35 air 2 air realm.

Of course I don't expect them to reverse themselves and say that with ATD-X being delayed and or canceled means that F-35 is good in A2A now but by their own narrative that would be the case.

Just wanted to point that out

[spazsinbad]

Japan reacts to reports it wants ability to destroy NKorean missiles prelaunch
07 Dec 2017 Mike Yeo

"...It was also reported that the ministry is expected to request the budget support an acquisition of the Joint Strike Missile, or JSM, from Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, with Nikkei Asian Review reporting that the JSM “would be deployed as early as fiscal 2019” on Japan’s Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.

However, the timeline reported by Nikkei would likely be impossible to attain even if Japan were to acquire the JSM, given than integration of the missile onboard the F-35 is currently scheduled to take place in the 2020s with the introduction of the Block 4.1 software that is currently in development.

While Onodera is correct in saying that standoff land-attack missiles were not included in the recent Japanese MoD budget request, Tokyo-based defense analyst James Simpson has said it is possible the missiles will appear in the actual budget bill schedule for release next year. Simpson pointed out to Defense News that similar occurrences have happened in the past.

Corey Wallace, an Einstein postdoctoral fellow in the Graduate School of East Asian Studies at Freie Universitat in Berlin, Germany, had also earlier told Defense News that a relatively shorter-range standoff land-attack missile like the JSM would be a baby step and a possible way to fudge what is seen by some Japanese citizens as an offensive image of longer-range missiles.

As Defense News previously reported, Japan’s MoD is looking at the possibility of acquiring a long-range counterstrike capability as part of Japan’s upcoming Mid-Term Defense Program and new National Defense Program Guidelines; although the country’s wartime past and current pacifist constitution would mean that any move to acquire capabilities that could be used in an offensive capacity would be politically sensitive."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/12 ... prelaunch/