The Air Self-Defense Force’s F-35A fighter jet is shown at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture in February. Pool photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan Times/Yomiuri Shimbun: More F-35As eyed to counter China
The government is considering procuring about 20 additional F-35A stealth fighter jets for the Air Self-Defense Force, starting from as early as fiscal 2020, in a bid to counter China’s rapidly expanding air power, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
The procurement plan will be stated in the next Medium Term Defense Program for fiscal 2019-23, which is slated to be compiled by the end of this year, according to sources close to the government. The newly acquired aircraft will be added to the F-35As to be deployed based on the government’s current plan, establishing the fleet of about 60 F-35As. Twenty fighter jets normally constitute a squadron.
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WNU Editor: The arms race continues in Asia.
