Japan says it may cancel F-35 order if prices rise

Boston Globe ^ | 2/29/2012 | Eric Talmadge

[U-238]

Japan may cancel its multibillion-dollar plans to buy dozens of F-35 stealth fighter jets from the United States if prices continue to rise or delays threaten the delivery date, its defense minister said Wednesday.

Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka said failure by manufacturer Lockheed Martin to deliver on time at current price levels would force Tokyo to consider switching to a different aircraft.

Japan announced late last year that it would purchase 42 F-35 jets in a deal expected to cost more than $5 billion. The next-generation fighter is set to become the centerpiece of the U.S. military and allied air forces around the world, but the program has been plagued by delays and its cost overruns.

Japan hopes to receive its first F-35s in 2016, at a cost of about $120 million per plane.

"I think we will reach a formal agreement before the summer," Tanaka told a session of Parliament. "If we cannot reach an agreement at that time, this would create a great deal of uncertainty for our national defense and preparedness. We would naturally have to view the possibility of canceling our plan or selecting another aircraft."

Lockheed Martin, in conjunction with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems, is building 2,400 F-35s for the U.S. as well as partner nations. But the cost of the program has jumped from $233 billion to $385 billion. Some estimates suggest that it could top out at $1 trillion over 50 years.

[Doogle]

.. jets from the United States if prices continue to rise or delays threaten the delivery date

...watch Odumbo throw a wrench into this deal

[equaviator]

I don’t like the idea of another country having so much of our air superiority capabilities. We are the only nation on earth to have and to have used the venerable A-10 Thunderbolt II in combat and for national defense (Air National Guard).

Our troops and pilots will never have to defend against the A-10 and that’s a good thing. So, what’s the justification for supplying the F-35 to Japan? I think it’s bad policy to share the F-35’s when we don’t share the aircraft it is intended to replace in some cases.

[afraidfortherepublic]

What is Japan doing buying war planes? I thought tthey signed a treaty after WWII to not re-build its military. I thought the USA handled all of Japan’s defense.

[MikeSteelBe]

Germany and Japan were both allowed to have limited defense forces sometime after WWII, but the US has always maintained bases there.

[Yo-Yo]

So, what is Japan’s track record for building their own fighters on time and under budget?

[Timber Rattler]

To counter the Red Chinese, who’ve been acting very aggressively in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Re-arming Japan and getting its American-imposed Pacifist Constitution changed was a priority of the Bush Administration so that the Japanese could participate in coalition warfare, such as in Iraq, and possibly in Korea.

[BfloGuy]

I thought the USA handled all of Japan’s defense.

No. It doesn't.

Japan's gradual expansion of its self-defense capabilities is a big plus for us.

[Candor7]

Japan says it may cancel F-35 order if prices rise >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Of course the contracted price of the F-35s is gonna rise, because the price of oil is going ballistic, as Obama wants.

Obama wants to destroy the military superiority of the Western powers as a matter of "historic justice" and punishment of America and its allies for the alleged previous colonial warfare of the USA against nations of color.

Obama is a fascist. A black power liberationist nationalist, redistribution of wealth socialist.A nationalist socialist.. A FASCIST. And we must be rid of Obama and his fascist organization.

Japan will never be allowed to have its F-35s let alone pay for them. We have a Hitler in the oval office.

[U-238]

Japan’s Basic Policy for National Defense stipulates the following policies:

1.Maintaining an exclusive defense-oriented policy.
2.To avoid becoming a major military power that might pose a threat to the world.
3.Refraining from the development of nuclear weapons, and to refuse to allow nuclear weapons inside Japanese territory. (Three Non-Nuclear Principles)
4.Ensuring civilian control of the military.
5.Maintaining security arrangements with the United States.
6.Building up defensive capabilities within moderate limits.
7.Strict limits on arms exports.(Three Principles on Arms Exports)

[newnhdad]

why buy American when they can just make it smaller and cheaper in a few years..

[U-238]

The Rules of Engagement are strictly defined by the Self-Defence Forces Act 1954

[U-238]

http://www.disam.dsca.mil/pubs/v.21_4/iwata.pdf