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

[spazsinbad]

Japan looking to buy more stealth fighters in fiscal 2015
20 August 2014 (Nikkei)

"TOKYO -- The Ministry of Defense plans to seek funding for the purchase of six F-35 stealth fighter jets in next fiscal year's budget to strengthen defense of remote southwestern islands against China, which has grown increasingly assertive at sea and in the air.

The ministry intends to ask that 124.9 billion yen ($1.2 billion) be set aside. The Air Self-Defense Force hopes to buy 42 of the aircraft in all to replace its fleet of aging F-4 fighters. The new fighters will be scrambled when foreign planes approach Japanese airspace.

Japan has purchased 10 F-35s over the three years from fiscal 2012,[?] but this will mark its first time buying six in a single year....

...The government's plan to strengthen defenses over the five years through fiscal 2018 calls for the introduction of 28 F-35s, three drones and four early-warning aircraft...."

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy ... iscal-2015

[Corsair1963]

Confusing...............are these 6 New F-35's in addition to the already committed to "42"??? Plus, which model of F-35 are they??? (F-35A's or F-35B's)

[spazsinbad]

Yes it is confusing and one has to go back a page to see how the 'numbers' develop. I blame reporters for the confusion but that means nothing in Japanese confusing language culture - deliberately made that way for ultimate non conveyance of real data. Just my IMHO though. The way I see it there is potential for more - not ordered - F-35s (maybe some future Bs) meanwhile those 42 ordered in batches apparently need a hurryup bigger batch next year from last 'news' report. But I could be todally rong and a dancing fool but it all gets sorted out in the end. Eh.

[Corsair1963]

Yes it is confusing and one has to go back a page to see how the 'numbers' develop. I blame reporters for the confusion but that means nothing in Japanese confusing language culture - deliberately made that way for ultimate non conveyance of real data. Just my IMHO though. The way I see it there is potential for more - not ordered - F-35s (maybe some future Bs) meanwhile those 42 ordered in batches apparently need a hurryup bigger batch next year from last 'news' report. But I could be todally rong and a dancing fool but it all gets sorted out in the end. Eh.

So, Japan is just increasing the year buy for the moment and more may follow later on???

[spazsinbad]

Yes - that is how I see it.

[spazsinbad]

Japan looking to buy more stealth fighters in 2015: Nikkei
19 Aug 2014 (Reporting by Sneha Banerjee in Bangalore)

"(Reuters) - Japan plans to seek funding to buy six F-35 stealth fighter jets in next year's budget to strengthen defense of remote southwestern islands against China, which has grown increasingly assertive at sea and in the air, the Nikkei reported.

The Ministry of Defense intends to ask that 124.9 billion yen ($1.21 billion) be set aside, the Nikkei said.

Air Self-Defense Force hopes to buy 42 of the aircraft in all to replace its fleet of aging F-4 fighters, the Nikkei said.

Japan has bought ten F-35s stealth fighters since 2012, but this will mark its first time buying six in a single year...."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/ ... 7220140819

[Corsair1963]

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[popcorn]

Deleted

[spazsinbad]

It is the end of the world as some know it (there be dragons) but Japan wants some F-35s and V-22s... Who'da thunk?

Japan defence budget calls for 20 P-1s, 5 V-22s
14 Jan 2015 [corrected] Greg Waldron

"Japan’s parliament has approved a Y4.98 trillion ($42 billion) defence budget for FY2015, with a strong emphasis on new airpower capabilities.

The budget, posted on the web site of Japan’s defence ministry, is 2.8% higher than in FY2014, and sets a new record for Japanese defence spending....

...It also includes funding for five Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft, which will be part of a new amphibious capability modelled on the US Marine Corps....

...Tokyo’s fighter fleet also gets a boost, with funding for six Lockheed Martin F-35As, the modernisation of eight F-15s, and improvements to nine Mitsubishi F-2 fighters...."

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... 2s-407881/

[Dragon029]

Typo there:

14 Jan 2014 Greg Waldron

[XanderCrews]

It is the end of the world as some know it (there be dragons) but Japan wants some F-35s and V-22s... Who'da thunk?

Japan defence budget calls for 20 P-1s, 5 V-22s
14 Jan 2015 [corrected] Greg Waldron

"Japan’s parliament has approved a Y4.98 trillion ($42 billion) defence budget for FY2015, with a strong emphasis on new airpower capabilities.

The budget, posted on the web site of Japan’s defence ministry, is 2.8% higher than in FY2014, and sets a new record for Japanese defence spending....

...It also includes funding for five Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft, which will be part of a new amphibious capability modelled on the US Marine Corps....

...Tokyo’s fighter fleet also gets a boost, with funding for six Lockheed Martin F-35As, the modernisation of eight F-15s, and improvements to nine Mitsubishi F-2 fighters...."

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... 2s-407881/

I bet all the usual suspects can't wait to report such great news!

[cantaz]

I bet all the usual suspects can't wait to report such great news!

"Once F-35B misses its IOC Japan will cancel their F-35 order and add to the death spiral waaaaaaah."

[maus92]

The latest defense budget proposal in Japan has Aegis destroyers and 6 F-35s on the list, according to the AP and other sources this morning:

"TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Defense Ministry wants to buy an advanced Aegis radar-equipped destroyer and more F-35 fighters under its largest-ever budget to bolster the defense of southern islands amid a territorial dispute with China. The ministry endorsed a 5.1 trillion yen ($42 billion) budget request Monday for the year beginning next April, up 2.2 percent from this year. It would be the fourth annual increase under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who took office in December 2012 and ended 10 years of defense budget cuts."

[spazsinbad]

No URL from 'maus92' to here it is again....

Japan seeks biggest-ever defense budget amid China concerns
31 Aug 2015 MARI YAMAGUCHI - AP

"TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Defense Ministry wants to buy an advanced Aegis radar-equipped destroyer and more F-35 fighters under its largest-ever budget to bolster the defense of southern islands amid a territorial dispute with China.

The ministry endorsed a 5.1 trillion yen ($42 billion) budget request Monday for the year beginning next April, up 2.2 percent from this year. It would be the fourth annual increase under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who took office in December 2012 and ended 10 years of defense budget cuts.

Monday was the deadline for all ministries to submit budget requests to the Finance Ministry....

...Abe's government says Japan needs to bolster its military role amid China's growing territorial assertiveness and the rising risk of terrorist attacks. Parliament is expected to approve a set of contentious bills to expand Japan's military role by late September.

The budget increase results largely from proposed purchases of new equipment, including 17 surveillance helicopters, six F-35 fighters and three advanced "Global Hawk" drones....

...The budget is to be formally drafted into a bill in December that will be submitted to parliament for approval."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japan-seeks-bigge ... 57724.html

[slapshot!]

Looks like the Pacific is heating up.

Separate note, does the JASDF use AESA radars in their F15Js?