Japan looking to buy more stealth fighters in 2015: Nikkei

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.

Osprey flights expanding across Japan

Despite a checkered history, nearly two years after the first MV-22B arrived in Japan, the head of the Okinawa-based 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is praising how the aircraft and its long range has spawned a transition in Marine aviation in the region, one that has caught the attention of allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
The interest in the V-22 centers on the aircraft’s range and speed, a combo that allows Marines to react to crises faster than with the Osprey’s predecessor, the CH-46 Sea Knight, said Brig. Gen. Steven Rudder, 1st MAW’s commanding general. Now, Marines can move from Okinawa to mainland Japan in just three or four hours, and the Philippines in three. Other nations — Rudder did not say which ones — are impressed and want to add this range, speed and mobility to their own arsenal. They might not, however, look specifically to the V-22 as a way to combine ground and air forces, he said.
Japan, for its part, is considering a purchase of 17 Ospreys over the next five years.
Japanese newspapers have also reported that Ospreys will be relocated to Saga Airport, about 600 miles north of Okinawa, raising questions about what sort of noise and safety issuesthe aircraft will bring there. But Rudder said that there are no plans to reposition Ospreys out of Okinawa since they are linked to ground forces based there, but Ospreys do, however, have short deployments in Saga Province.
marinecorpstimes

F-15J Japan Air Self-Defense Force

F-15J
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) is the biggest foreign user of the F-15, and Japan is the only license-builder of the type. The F-15, the commanding fighter built for the US Air Force, was developed by McDonnell Douglas with its first flight in 1972. In Japan, it was introduced into the Air Self-Defense Force, and manufactured and licensed as the F-15J, with MHI as the primary contractor. Beginning in 1981, there have been a total of 223 units, including the F-15DJs, manufactured and delivered to the Air Self-Defense Force. The Mitsubishi F-15J/DJ Eagle is the principal air superiority fighter operated by the JASDF.

Japan announces plan for 17 new Ospreys

Tokyo plans to deploy 17 Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Saga Airport on Kyushu island during the next five years starting from fiscal year 2015, according to Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera.

Onodera's first public disclosure of the expected deployment site for the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF)-operated Ospreys came as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is preparing a budget request for FY15 that includes funds to buy five MV-22s.

Onodera said the MoD is looking into the possibility of the SDF sharing Saga Airport with civilian airlines. "Considering future maintenance and training, it will be appropriate to deploy them in one place," he told reporters on 20 July.

Onodera said Saga Airport was selected because the facility is on the coast and is located near Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, where the GSDF's Western Army Infantry Regiment will base a 3,000-strong amphibious force that is being trained to defend remote islands.

Japan plans to procure 17 Ospreys for the GSDF by FY 2018, according to the Mid-Term Defense Programme (FY 2014/18) adopted by the cabinet in December 2013.

Onodera said he had told Saga Governor Yasushi Furukawa of the deployment plan on 17 July and said Parliamentary Senior Vice Defence Minister Ryota Takeda would visit Saga Prefecture on 22 July to explain the plan and ask for local support.
janes

Nhật Bản lên kế hoạch mua 17 máy bay MV-22 Osprey của Bell-Boeing. Mặc dù MV-22 đã từng tham chiến và phục vụ tại chiến trường Afgahnistan và Iraq nhưng đây cũng là thương vụ xuất khẩu đầu tiên của loại máy bay này. Trước đó, tại căn cứ không quân của Mỹ ở đảo Okinawa Nhật Bản Mỹ cũng triển khai MV-22 để phục vụ các hoạt động thường trực.

Onodera says Japan may buy more F-35s at right price

Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera on 8 July said Tokyo will consider buying additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters should the cost of the aircraft come down.

"If each country expands manufacturing capability [of F-35s] and increases production volume, this leads to the reduction of the unit cost," Onodera told reporters after visiting Lockheed Martin's fighter production plant in Fort Worth, Texas. "In such a case, it's important to think twice about the total volume."

National broadcaster NHK reported that Onodera was told by Lockheed Martin officials that the company will begin assembling the first F-35s for Japan in August.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force plans to acquire 42 F-35A conventional take-off and landing variants of the aircraft. The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) has already reached an agreement with Lockheed Martin to buy six F-35As and JPY63.8 billion (USD627.2 million) was earmarked for the purchase of four F-35 jets this fiscal year.

Meanwhile, a senior MoD official has told IHS Jane's that some of the six Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and four US Navy P-3C aircraft damaged in February when a facility roof collapsed during heavy snow were unrecoverable.

A senior official at Kawasaki Heavy Industries confirmed to IHS Jane's on 9 July that some of the aircraft were severely damaged, with some wings broken off.

"We can't take out the aircraft from the broken hanger yet," the official said. "We will start that work in autumn. After that, the relevant parties will make the final judgment on which aircraft can be still recovered. Even if some aircraft are recoverable, it is another question on whether we actually restore them or not. Some of these P-3Cs may be old enough to retire."

ANALYSIS

Onodera's comments on the F-35 are a small ray of light during a bad week for the aircraft, which has been grounded following a 23 June fire aboard an F-35A at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The F-35A and the carrier variant C-model had previously been temporarily suspended from conducting flight operations over safety concerns, while it remains unclear whether F-35Bs will be able to travel to airshows in the UK as planned.

Meanwhile, on 8 July the Pentagon's Joint Program Office (JPO) overseeing the F-35 acquisition said it had "temporarily suspended" negotiations for the next lot of aircraft and engines.

"Negotiations will resume once the scope of the engine issue and downstream effects are known," JPO spokesperson Kyra Hawn told IHS Jane's . "The JPO would not close the deal with this issue outstanding and any subsequent fixes unresolved."

Despite these issues and the negative publicity arising from an F-35 no-show at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow, the aircraft's existing customers - such as Japan - appear to be happy with the programme's progress so far. One possible reason for this is that the F-35 is the only show in town and has rock solid support from the US Congress, suggesting it will not be cancelled anytime soon.