U.S Values Japan’s F-35A Deal $10 billion

The proposed sale of 42 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter aircrafts to Japan has been assessed by the U.S at $10 billion. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, in a letter notifying the Congress, outlined the details of the proposed Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal. Each aircraft will roughly cost $238 million includes spare parts, training and a lifetime of support. The package also includes Pratt & Whitney F135 engines and electronic warfare systems. It will also includes logistical support, including software development and integration, and other elements. Japans selected the F-35’s conventional take-off and landing variant as the winner of an F-X competition in 2011 to replace its McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-4 Phantoms. Rival bidders included he Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon. Australia, Canada and Norway have also had to face the increasing costs within the F-35 programme, a contentious issue among other operators. According to a news report published on Flight Global, the Japanese MoD has been quoted as saying that the increase is "without valid reasons, there is a possibility that the procurement could be cancelled". Japans is now reportedly requesting the U.S government to deliver the aircraft at the price requested “in accordance with the content of the proposal by the period requested”.