TOKYO — Japan’s government has selected the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter to bolster its aging air force and is likely to announce the multibillion-dollar deal by the end of the week, news reports said today.
The announcement is expected after a committee meeting Friday, according to Kyodo News agency and the Yomiuri newspaper. A spokesman for Lockheed Martin said it had not been informed of any decision, and Defense Ministry officials refused to comment.
Japan is expected to buy 40 to 50 jets for as much as $8 billion, though the value of the deal depends on what package Japan chooses. The Yomiuri report said Japan will budget for the first four aircraft in 2012.
Dave Scott, director of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 international business development, said he thinks the deal is being watched closely and will have a big impact on the company’s sales efforts elsewhere.
Japan has wrangled for years over whether to buy the F-35, Boeing F-18 or Eurofighter Typhoon, made by a consortium of European companies. The U.S. planes were seen as the favorites because of close U.S.-Japan military ties.
The F-35, also called the Joint Strike Fighter, is the Pentagon’s biggest weapons procurement program — costing $238 billion — and has support from allies including Britain, Australia, Canada, Israel and several European nations. It is to be used by the U.S. Air Force, Marines and Navy.
Japan — with 362 fighter jets — is one of the top air powers in the region.
To further sweeten the deal, Lockheed has promised Japan a share of the assembly and production of the aircraft.
