  | 
| 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.