Japan wants to buy 15 fifth-generation F-35A and F-35B Lightning II fighters for more than $1.6bn

Japan's defence ministry is requesting $52.9bn for fiscal year 2024. Part of the funds will be used to buy US fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.

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The US, UK and Italy are the three countries that operate the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing fighter jets. In the future, Japan and Singapore will join them. Moreover, Singapore plans to be the first in the world to operate the F-35B not from aircraft carriers, but from military bases on the ground.

As for Japan, the budget request for fiscal year 2024 envisages the purchase of 15 fifth-generation fighters worth more than $1.6 billion. The Land of the Rising Sun is ready to spend $739.3 million to purchase eight F-35As and $862.3 million to purchase seven F-35Bs.

Along with the F-15J, the fifth-generation fighters will be armed with AGM-158 JASSM-ER air-to-air missiles with a maximum launch range of nearly 1,000 kilometres. The sale of the JASSM-ER was recently approved by the US State Department.

Japan is on its way to becoming the largest operator of the F-35 Lightning II outside the US. The Land of the Rising Sun will have 105 F-35A fighters and 42 F-35B aircraft. It has already ordered 63 and 20 units respectively. Deliveries of the F-35B will begin in 2025.

Source: Defence News