Considering their history, it’s highly unlikely that Japan would agree to buy F-22s if they wouldn’t be granted a license to build them themselves. No gaijin and all that.
I don’t agree.
The FSX/F-2 project was an extension of the F-16.
At the time, many of our allies were already building/assembling the F-16 in their own countries as part of the partner programs. Japan wanted a modified version and were willing to license the design elements. I don’t think that establishes a trend, any more than other countries want their own defense base to benefit from such programs.
Similar deal with the F-15J.
Japan wants the F-22.
They already KNOW that it’s not going to be built in Japan.
They want it anyway and they’re willing to pay for it.
We have a top-tier set of allies that have been with us, and Japan is guaranteed to be among the FIRST (if not THE first) when it comes to involvement in a large-scale Asian conflict.
I’d love for them (and Australia and England, among others) to have them, but we still need to work out a security plan of the technology.