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| Boeing and Lockheed Martin have confirmed their interest in participating in the competition to replace Japan's Mitsubishi F-2 multirole fighter aircraft, seen here. Source: Japanese Air Self-Defense Force |
By: Wording OD.
Boeing and Lockheed Martin have confirmed their interest in pursuing
the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) requirement to replace its
Mitsubishi F-2 multirole fighter aircraft.
Speaking to IHS Jane's on 19 July, the US corporations said
that they will aim to leverage their significant respective footprints
in Japan in bidding for a programme, which could be worth about USD20
billion.
The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) has recently issued a request
for information (RfI) and has said it expects to make a decision
regarding the JASDF's "future fighter aircraft" by fiscal year 2018,
which commences April 2018.
The F-2 was produced in the 2000s in a collaboration programme
between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Lockheed Martin and is
expected to be retired from about 2027.
A spokesperson from Boeing told IHS Jane's that the company
was in the process of reviewing the F-2 replacement requirements. The
spokesperson added that Boeing is "constantly looking for ways to grow
[its] relationships and increase our presence in Japan, and are open to
discussions with the customer to see how we can help meet their security
needs".
A spokesperson from Lockheed Martin said, "Japan is seeking
information from a variety of potential industry partners and we are
certainly interested in another potential opportunity to bolster our
long-standing partnership with Japan." The spokesperson added, "We are
proud of our successful partnerships with Japan on the F-35 programme
and MHI on the F-2 programme. We look forward to learning more about
Japan's plans as discussions progress."
The RfI was issued in June to international combat aircraft
manufacturers as part of a study into jet fighter technologies. The RfI
closed earlier in July, with the companies - also likely to include
Eurofighter and Saab - expected to present their information by the end
of August.
The RfI is intended to support consideration of available combat
aircraft as well as gauge international companies' willingness to
participate in a collaborative programme as the MoD decides whether to
develop the F-2 replacement indigenously or to enter a joint development
programme with a foreign firm based on an existing fighter aircraft
design.
Source: Jane's Defense.
