Roles of Japan Firms Key to Selecting F-2 Fighter Successor

November 7, 2018

<br /><br /> Tokyo, Nov. 6 (Jiji Press)--Japan will examine how much domestic companies can get involved in development or other processes when selecting a successor to the Air Self-Defense Force's F-2 fighter jet, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Tuesday. <br /><br /> The possible "involvement of domestic industries is an important point," Iwaya told a press conference. <br /><br /> F-2 fighters are expected to be decommissioned from around 2030. <br /><br /> Some lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party say Japan should aim for international development of a successor jet in which the country plays a core part, to maintain the foundation of the domestic defense industry. <br /><br /> As for criteria for choosing a successor, Iwaya cited five points--abilities necessary to gain air superiority, capabilities to mount new technologies in the future, flexibility to upgrade, the involvement of domestic companies and costs. <strong>Jiji Press</strong>