From Defence Talk

 

Japan is considering the Eurofighter Typhoon as a replacement for some of its ageing fighter jets, in what would be a surprise move for a country that has hitherto relied on the United States for combat aircraft.

 

The Defence Ministry is examining its options as it plans to start replacing its fleet of 60 F-4 fighters as well as training aircraft in the next couple of years, the defence ministry said.

 

"Of course we are considering the Eurofighter among other options," a spokesman at the Defence Ministry said.

 

The Eurofighter is built by a consortium headed by BAE Systems, Europe's largest defence firm.

 

The Rafale fighter jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France, was also under consideration, the ministry spokesman said.

 

The U.S. Congress has banned exports of its most advanced and most expensive fighter jet, the F-22A, built by Lockheed Martin (LMT.N: Quote, Profile , Research) and Boeing (BA.N: Quote, Profile , Research), possibly pushing Japan to seek other options.

 

"We understand that the F-22A is an amazing aircraft," the Defence Ministry spokesman said. "Approval would be needed from Congress, and that may be a factor."

 

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer said last week that Europe made good fighter planes, but that interoperability should be a factor in the decision.

 

"The more interoperability, the greater your ability to have an effect on the battlefield," he told reporters in Tokyo.

 

Japan and the United States have agreed to step up cooperation between their armed forces in the face of rising regional tensions after North Korea's nuclear and missile tests last year.

 

In their first deployment overseas in February this year, a group of Raptors on their way to the Kadena airbase on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa were delayed by several days because of software problems.

From Jane's Defence Industry

 

21 March 2007

Japan narrows next-generation fighter requirement choice

By Jon Grevatt Jane's Asia-Pacific Industry Reporter

 

Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials have decided to continue formal interest in three aircraft to meet its F-X next-generation fighter requirements - the Eurofighter Typhoon, and Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15E Strike Eagle - although a plan to lobby Washington to acquire Lockheed Martin's F-22 has not been ruled out.

 

A source at the Japanese MoD said: "Officials from the Ministry of Defence went to the US and Europe from 25 February to 15 March and have decided on three aircraft that could meet Japan's next-generation fighter aircraft."

 

He added that, contrary to media reports, Dassault's Rafale "is not being considered".

 

Speaking on 20 March, the Japanese MoD source refused to say whether interest in the F-22 had been discontinued. "We have decided on three aircraft to meet Japan's next-generation fighter requirements. But the F-22 is a modern, hi-tech fighter - so yes, of course, we are very interested. But of lot of things would need to be cleared before we would have a chance of acquiring the F-22."

 

Jane's Comment:

 

According to Jane's Defence Forecasts, the Eurofighter Typhoon is favourite the win the contest for Japan's next-generation fighter requirement. If Eurofighter were to win the contract, the cost of the aircraft - based on the 80 aircraft Japan would need to replace its current F-4EJ fighters - could reach more than USD9 billion.