via The Diplomat.
Although the F-35 was the only 5th generation jet, the Defense Ministry’s choice was a gamble. Ongoing problems with the plane, such as cracks in the fuselage, fuel concerns over not only its performance and safety, but successful completion of its development. Persistent problems mean falling behind the development schedule and increases in the final cost. Worse, U.S. defense spending cuts and the European debt crisis could lead to reduced orders or even participation by some of the planes’ developers since four of the partner nations are EU members. Fewer orders or resources could lead to further spikes in costs.Which just says DEATH SPIRAL in a more civilized way.
We're going to see this across the board. Nations need to replace fighters, the F-35 is touted as the latest and greatest, maintenance and procurement costs spike, numbers bought are decreased AND US/partner nations relations are ruined.
Everyone that still supports this program says to "don't quit" and "stay the course".
Custer said the same thing to his SNCO's when they told him that he was riding into a trap.
For the record: we japanese don't are buying F-35 because we think that is the best fighter for the defense of Japan. We are buying it for healing the US-Japan ties hurt by the Futenma base issue.
ReplyDeletePersonally I wish that Boeing instead of offering the F-18 they offered to us the Silent Eagle that is clearly better for a land based fighter. For Japan F-18 only can be a good choice if we build CATOBAR carriers and that is beyond our budget. F-35 make some sense if we build STOVL carriers.
If the F-35 end being a piece of junk or the cost grown even more, the most likely reaction is going to be rushing to get an alternative replacement, maybe buying used typhoons from the EU. I don't see the japanese F-3 stealth fighter as a realistic plan B because it lack enough funds for being taken seriously.
You don't have to worry about the F-3; Militant Abe will make sure the F-3 happens now that the KFX is officially a go. Abe would not let Japan fall behind in an arms race while Japan's enemies arm up.
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DeleteUnlike most JSF partner nations Japan has a fall back option in the form of the F-3, so the F-35 being delayed is of little concern to Japan.
ReplyDeleteI think the F3 is a bogeyman, a paper tiger created to squeeze concessions out of the Americans. Developing a new stealth fighter will take Japan at least twenty years. I doubt if the Japanese can wait that long.
DeleteJapan really wanted the F-22. This got kiboshed because the Raptor was somehow forbidden to have any foreign sales, even amongst close allies.
ReplyDeleteNow they get the F-35 as "consolation prize". I think I would have picked the lifetime supply of Rice-a-Roni.
Let's see first if Japan gets the first flight in 2014/2015 of ATD-X. That would be a good start, considering how much trouble Mitsubishi is having with their regional jet MJR and close to a 2 year delay for deliveries, Japan would be very lucky to get their new fighter late 2020s, maybe even 2030. Even the Japanese are saying it will take 10 years to get from prototype ATD-X to production F3, that might be optimistic.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_ATD-X
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/22/us-mitsubishi-jet-idUSBRE97L09720130822
In the mean time they are asking Russians to wait until 2030 to start the production of the Pakfa...
ReplyDeletehttp://russianplanes.net/images/to126000/125010.jpg
Saw the new paint job of PAKFA yesterday, looks like some kid got hold of a spray gun and went at it...
ReplyDeleteJapan should buys few of this to act with their F-15s
ReplyDeletehttp://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Boeing-EA-18G-Growler/1917332/L/
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