Japan’s defense ministry took a chance opting for the F-35 stealth fighter to replace its aging fleet. But soaring costs could undermine one of America’s closest alliances.
In December, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda relaxed Japan’s ban on exporting weapons and related-technology. The self-imposed ban, a legacy of Japan’s postwar pacifist movement, was introduced in 1967. While not a law, it prohibited Japan from selling weapons to communist states, countries subject to U.N. embargoes, and nations involved in international conflicts. In 1976, it was expanded to all countries, although the United States was granted exemptions.
Noda’s relaxation allows Japan to participate in international joint development and production of military equipment and technology with a limited set of countries. Additionally, it enables transfer of finished equipment to countries where Japan’s military deploys during U.N. peacekeeping operations. This includes helmets, protective vests, and heavy machinery.
While in principle, Japan can now export weapons, this isn’t likely as the government aims to assist in peaceful activity. Quite simply, the new standards allow Japan to do more with some countries, but it will continue to abide by the 1967 ban.
Important is the motivation, which was economic. The ban restricted Japanese companies from joining production of equipment and technology with other countries. Not being able to enjoy the benefits of economies of scale, domestic production costs have been extremely high. Worse, although Japan is technologically advanced, developing state-of-the-art defense equipment is expensive, leaving Japan to buy expensive overseas equipment. This has fueled fears that Japan’s hi-tech weaponry is falling behind. Faced with these expensive costs against a declining defense budget, the Defense Ministry desperately wanted the relaxation.
Another factor was the state of Japan’s defense industry. Although companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) depend on defense contracts for only a small percentage of their revenue, their subcontractors depend on such contracts for almost their entire revenue. With limited contracts, these subcontractors were shrinking and some collapsing. This prompted the Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to push for the relaxation to expand the production markets.
This brings us to Japan’s choice of its next generation fighter for its Air Self-Defense Forces. Relaxing the ban allows Japanese companies to join joint development projects. This proved timely, given that the government was deciding on its next generation fighter to replace Japan’s 40-year-old fleet of McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom fighters. Although two other options existed that are currently available and promised to involve Japanese companies in production at a much higher rate (Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and BAE Systems’ Eurofighter Typhoon), the Defense Ministry chose to procure 42 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighters.
This decision was due to it outscoring the other jets in terms of cost, ease of maintenance and repair and, most importantly, its performance capabilities. Specifically, its stealth technology and situational awareness capabilities. What it didn’t score highly on was the level of participation of Japanese firms. While companies like MHI and IHI will assemble the F-35 and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation will be responsible for wiring, there’s little opportunity for Japanese firms to contribute technology or obtain new technology.
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.
Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force
View as Single Page
Reddit
Digg
StumbleUpon
Delicious
Technorati
Yahoo
Google
Plurk
Lung Sha Shou
The Japanese need to go nuclear and soon.
At least they would have a credible offensive capacity.
They need sufficient strike power to deter an enemy which although not suicidal has no regard for its people.
MAD worked before, it could work again to deter the greatest threat to civilisation and peace the world has seen.
If you want peace prepare for war.
The Chinaboogers are not interested in peace, they are interested in weakening other countries and Chinese domination. They want to pave they way for the great oriental hegemon.
The Japanese should build a large offensive nuclear capacity to save us all from what they went through at the end of WWII.
The Chinese simply cannot be trusted – you NEVER trust others with your freedom and your future.
Leonard R.
Agreed. Japan needs short & medium range nuclear strike ability. It could knock out a slew of Chinese cities with that.
Broncazonk is an impressive poster. He seems to know a lot about modern combat aircraft.
Mark Thomason
The Japanese want the airplanes, but much more they want the technology we agreed to share as part of the purchase. As long as they get the technology and secrets, they’ll be happy enough with the airplane program that it won’t undermine anything.
Major Lowen Gil Marquez, Phil Army
Thats a good strategy for the Japanese government and its masses to procure F35 to make its arsenal capable to augment with other friendly nations for the defense of human kind against neurotic communist county for the good of future generation…
James the Australian
F22 and F35 will not only bankrupt the USA even further but also those nations who opt for them.
These fighters are enormously expensive toys not just to buy but to maintain too!
Japan opt for the F35, as only the F35 can fly off their so call helicopter carriers.
Only pausible solution to bring down the cost, is to get China to build them on their behalf.
An even better solution is to be better mates with them and the Ruski, so you would not need them at all.
Cyrus
Japan would never do that. Besides, they have helicopter destroyers not carriers and would take some time before they could start building Aircraft Carriers per se. Their constitution won’t allow it.
Crocodile Chuck
The Marine Corps variant of the F-35 (STOL) has been canned-it doesn’t work.
I suspect Japan will have bigger problems than not receiving the F-35 on time/on budget.
For instance, its economic quagmire (gov’t debt:GDP), demographic implosion and energy crisis (only one nuke operating out of a country fleet of 55).
Prediction: it will never purchase them.
BGW
The Marine Corps variant of the F-35, the F-35B (STOVL) has not been canned and it does work
aaron
“James the Australian” sounds more like James the PRC citizen living in Australia… How do you expect Japan to trust China with sensitive military equipment??? As for alliances… The PRC and Russia both have terriorial disputes with Japan. U.S. and Japan have similiar strategic interests, hence the alliance.
Sir Humphrey
An interesting article, and one that sets out the difficulties in the US / Japan relationship.
Its also interesting to note that Japan is now seeking to review wider alliances with other nations, such as the UK – news in the UK recently suggests that a wider defence co-operation arrangement may be signed shortly to improve defence ties, and possibly (if you believe the article) see the reconsideration of Eurofighter or UK ship designs.
venkat s kanakamedala
MAY BE WISE FOR AMERICA F-16,F-18 HORNETS AND F-35 JSF STEALTH TO ALL FRIENDLY NATIONS IN ASIA LIKE JAPAN,TAIWAN,SOUTH KOREA, PHILIPPIANS,INDIA. BETTER TO INSTALL TMS N DMS ON THE TERRITORIES OF THESE NATIONS TO ESTABLISH PEACE IN ASIA.BETTER TO PLAN A STRATEGIC MILITARY ALLIANCE.
John Chan
Canada does not have the amount of foreign reserve and trade surplus like Japan, but Canada understands the importance to support an ally devoting tremendous resource to develop the F-35 for defending the Westpac superiority, so that nobody in the world will ever question that USA is the prominent political, economic and military power which has the greatest force fore stability in the world, as well as nobody would challenge the credibility of American power and its willingness to use its power to achieve good to fight back against totalitarian in human rights abuses.
Even with limited resources Canada ordered 70 F-35 without price cap. Japan has nearly a trillion USD foreign reserve but it only chose to purchase a meager 42 F-35, and it is still bickering to squeeze USA on cost. On top of that USA let Japan jump the queue to get such advanced state-of-the-art top-of-the-line weaponry even without making any contribution in the R&D like all other partner nations. Japan’s stingy behaviour makes one wondered whether Japan is a reliable ally in the Westpac, or it is harboring untold ambition in the Pacific-Asia.
Japan benefits from USA’s protection way more than Canada since WWII, 60 years and counting. For a fair treatment among its allies, USA should demand Japan to commit same proportion of money as Canada to F-35 as proof of its commitment to the USA’s cause and a trustworthy member in the Westpac to dominate the world with force.
vec
Colonial or semi colonial protection as a conquered nation of America for 60 years as evidenced by more than 80 or more bases of the U.S. in Japan.
Mazo
According to most aviation experts, the Russian PAK-FA is definitely of a superior design and capability than the F-35, while the Chinese J-20 is also said to pose a formidable challenge to the F-35. Japan already enjoys US air defense protection with the stationing of F-22 fighter aircraft at Kadena, so these F-35 are more likely to fulfill more of a support role than any “air interdiction” of Russian or Chinese fifth generation fighter aircraft. More likely is the prospect of the Japanese acquiring the F-35 aircraft to rapidly convert the existing large Japanese helicopter “carrier” flat-tops into a aircraft carrier. As an air defense platform, the F-35 does not offer anything substantive over the F-15J the Japanese air force already has.
Broncazonk
Mazo wrote, “the Russian PAK-FA is definitely of a superior design and capability than the F-35…” Not true. The PAK-FA is a pure fighter. The F-35 is a strike fighter. The two are VERY different in role and function. Furthermore, it’s taken the Russians 15-years to build two (2) PAK-FA’s and Russian manufacturing isn’t getting any better. In fact, it’s getting much worse.
Mazo wrote, “while the Chinese J-20 is also said to pose a formidable challenge to the F-35.” The J-20 is a flying joke. It’s not even close to being a stealth aircraft.
Here’s the thing the arm-chair experts forget. The PAK-FA and J-20 burn jet fuel in HUGE amounts. Modern combat jets are basically out of gas when they reach altitude. Without a massive investment in aerial refueling tanker aircraft the “fearsome” PAK-FA and J-20 become hanger queens. China lacks quantitative aerial refueling capability and the Russians have lost theirs.
The only country on the planet that can keep combat aircraft in the air long enough to be effective is the USA and that will remain the case for the next 50-years.
Bronc
Mazo
“The PAK-FA is a pure fighter. The F-35 is a strike fighter. The two are VERY different in role and function. Furthermore, it’s taken the Russians 15-years to build two (2) PAK-FA’s and Russian manufacturing isn’t getting any better. In fact, it’s getting much worse.”
The PAK-FA is NOT, I repeat NOT a “pure fighter”. The PAK-FA has since inception been classified as “fifth generation multi-role fighter” that would replace both the air-dominance Mig-29 and the “multi-role” Su-27 in service with the Russian Air Forces. The PAK-FA from inception has been designed with large internal bomb bays that were specifically designed to carry large amounts of air-to-ground ordinance (more than the F-35) and air-to-air ordinance in stealth to its targets! These facts are self-evident from what little information has been revealed about the PAK-FA. As to your assertion that it has taken the Russian defense industry 15 years to build 2, that is ludicrous and absurd considering that this was the “TOTAL” time taken for research and development – something the USA took nearly 20 years to do to get the F-22 into production despite enjoying no major political or economic setbacks. As such with the integration of various defense industries into the United Aircraft Corporation of Russia, manufacturing has been streamlined and more competitive than any of their Western competitors.
“The PAK-FA and J-20 burn jet fuel in HUGE amounts. Modern combat jets are basically out of gas when they reach altitude. Without a massive investment in aerial refueling tanker aircraft the “fearsome” PAK-FA and J-20 become hanger queens. “
Another completely baseless and absolutely ridiculous statement. For one, Russian fighters have MUCH GREATER non-refueled and clean ranges than Western fighters “because” of the large internal fuel tanks and not because they “consume more fuel” and second, Russian fighter aircraft have always been aerodynamically far superior in terms of air maneuverability, maximum top speed or even altitude attainable than comparable NATO fighters with the exception of special NATO aircraft like the SR-71 or the U-2. To claim that the Russian fighters are incapable of striking at range is an absurd statement, given what operating Russian aircraft have already demonstrated.
The Chinese and the Russians have adequate air-to-air refuelers though not to the extent the USAF/USN has due to their extensive expeditionary commitments.
Broncazonk
“The PAK-FA has since inception been classified as “fifth generation multi-role fighter” that would replace both the air-dominance Mig-29 and the “multi-role” Su-27 in service with the Russian Air Forces.” Not correct. The PAK-FA has extremely limited internal capacity. It’s an air superiority fighter, PERIOD. The only other missiles that fit are anti-radiation missiles and those dovetail with the air superiority role.
Simply said, Russian aircraft manufacturing capability is dying before our eyes. The first PAK-FA (T-50 01) has been grounded due to structural failure with under 1,500 hours on the airframe and without ever engaging in high AoA testing.
“The PAK-FA from inception has been designed with large internal bomb bays that were specifically designed to carry large amounts of air-to-ground ordinance…” This is simply incorrect. The PAK-FA TOTALLY LACKS to ability to drop ordnance. It can fire AAM, AGM and ASM’s, but it cannot drop anything.
Again, given the fundamental inability of Russia to actual build the PAK-FA, and given the fact that the PAK-FA has proven to be structurally unsound, the PAK-FA / T-50 will never enter series production.
“The Chinese and the Russians have adequate air-to-air refuelers..” This is factually incorrect. The Chinese do not possess this vital operational ability at all. Period. (That is a categorical statement.) And the Russians have lost theirs.
The Russian airforce barely flys anymore, and the Chinese airforce is terrible at it.
Bronc
Three Amigos
The F22 and F35 are flying the USA off the cliff financially.
Useless piece of machine….F22 requires 120 Hrs servicing for 1 hr in the air.
Both cost more then 150 millions dollars to purchase.
The F22 is truely a remarkable plane as it can put the pilot to sleep and fly by itself…hahaha!
Tom Tran
As a self-claimed arm expert, Russian arms are designed for cheap armies like those in Russia or ex-commie blocks. They are prone to malfunction and crashes. They are cheap to produced and cheap to operate. Parts are cheap to acquire too. But nothing is both cheap and perform superior to others, be realistic. The Russian tends to claim many many fancy things but reality is that they failed in almost everything used to be the forefront in the Soviet era.
talking point
useless article. its a done deal, why bother?
Eric Palmer
“Fifth-generation fighter” is a marketing term created by industry. It has no relevance to today’s operational fighter aircraft. And, if one tracks all the F-35 issues, the aircraft, if anything, is a fifth-generation failure.
Broncazonk
Where to begin, where to begin…
First off, Lockheed Martin building and selling the JSF (F-35) not the US government, and the government is making no promises whatsoever regarding the JSF, Lockheed Martin is. The US government has no (zero) proprietary interest in the JSF, beyond it’s role as in procurement. So, the JSF debacle (and it is a debacle) will have zero effect on our relations.
Second, Japan has already put Lockheed Martin on notice for both an increase in price and delay. They are already prepared to leave the program for either reason.
Third, Japan has the F-15, F-16, F-18, Eurofighter, and Rafale to choose from if the F-35 continues to fail.
Fourth, the JSF / F-35 is a strike fighter. It is an offensive weapon, not a defensive one. The F-35 is designed to penetrate a complex, multi-layered, multi-defended hostile airspace and deliver ordnance on high value targets. It is NOT an interceptor or air superiority fighter like the F-15 or F-16. Why the Japan Defense Force wants to buy the F-35 Strike Fighter is therefore somewhat of a mystery.
Fifth, the Japanese could park their air force–ground it completely–and the US would gladly, willingly, shoulder the burden of defending Japan’s airspace and possessions.
This is a no-controversy, non-story if there ever was one.
Bronc
Bierstadt
Just one point – the US will indeed defend Japan from attack as best it can. However, in the security environment that is developing, that will not always be enough. American resources are great, but they are far from unlimited. Japan needs to provide for its own defense if it wishes to maintain its freedom and security. Having the US as a close friend and ally is not a good excuse for a weak military.
Mazo
I doubt anybody in the USPACCOM can say with absolutely certainty that should the Chinese military decide to launch a full scale attack on Japan, they have enough resources under their command to ward off the might of the PLA. Even when it comes to air-defense the US has deployed only one squadron of F-22s in Japan – which have a combat readiness of less than 50% usually due to various bugs and glitches.