Lockheed offers F-22/F-35 hybrid for Japan's next fighter
bootlegga @ Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:32 pm
$1:
TOKYO -- U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin proposed combining technologies from two of the world's most powerful fighter jets for Japan's next-generation fleet in a formal proposal submitted by Friday.
In addition to Lockheed, Boeing and Britain's BAE Systems have also offered their own technologies to replace Japan's F-2 fighters, slated to retire around 2030, the Defense Ministry said. Friday was the deadline for proposal submissions. Japan will now weigh these options alongside proposals for a homegrown fighter and joint development with the U.S. or U.K.
Details of their offers have not been made public. But Lockheed has apparently pitched an aircraft that brings together the best of the F-22 tactical fighter jet, known for its advanced stealth capabilities and supersonic speeds, and the F-35, which has network capabilities allowing it to draw on data from ground facilities.
F-22 technology is guarded closely by the U.S., and generally not allowed out of the country. If Americans share some of that tech with Japan, that means Washington deems the country an essential U.S. partner on defense. It is still unclear how much information the U.S. side is willing to divulge.
The other two bidders are also thought to have offered revamped versions of current models. Boeing produces the FA-18 jet used by the U.S. military. The ship-based aircraft is prized for the power it provides even at slower speeds. BAE's Eurofighter Typhoon, developed by four nations including the U.K., is known for its supersonic cruising speeds.
When selecting a next-generation fighter jet in 2011, Japan considered the F-35, FA-18 and Eurofighter, ultimately deciding on the first.
The Defense Ministry plans to push for join development to involve Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. A purely Japanese fighter is probably off the table owing to high costs and technological challenges. A potential British-Japan fighter project is also being discussed.
Japan is looking to make a final decision within this year to include the plan in an updated defense plan taking effect from fiscal 2019.
In addition to Lockheed, Boeing and Britain's BAE Systems have also offered their own technologies to replace Japan's F-2 fighters, slated to retire around 2030, the Defense Ministry said. Friday was the deadline for proposal submissions. Japan will now weigh these options alongside proposals for a homegrown fighter and joint development with the U.S. or U.K.
Details of their offers have not been made public. But Lockheed has apparently pitched an aircraft that brings together the best of the F-22 tactical fighter jet, known for its advanced stealth capabilities and supersonic speeds, and the F-35, which has network capabilities allowing it to draw on data from ground facilities.
F-22 technology is guarded closely by the U.S., and generally not allowed out of the country. If Americans share some of that tech with Japan, that means Washington deems the country an essential U.S. partner on defense. It is still unclear how much information the U.S. side is willing to divulge.
The other two bidders are also thought to have offered revamped versions of current models. Boeing produces the FA-18 jet used by the U.S. military. The ship-based aircraft is prized for the power it provides even at slower speeds. BAE's Eurofighter Typhoon, developed by four nations including the U.K., is known for its supersonic cruising speeds.
When selecting a next-generation fighter jet in 2011, Japan considered the F-35, FA-18 and Eurofighter, ultimately deciding on the first.
The Defense Ministry plans to push for join development to involve Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. A purely Japanese fighter is probably off the table owing to high costs and technological challenges. A potential British-Japan fighter project is also being discussed.
Japan is looking to make a final decision within this year to include the plan in an updated defense plan taking effect from fiscal 2019.
Lockheed is also pitching this to the USAF as a new next-generation plane.
https://www.defenseone.com/business/201 ... annelriver
If this actually goes ahead, this is what Canada should look at buying, not the F-35.
Robair @ Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:45 pm
Typhoon.
Do not buy American.
llama66 @ Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:47 pm
I'd love an F-22/35 hybrid. call it the Lightning Raptor.
Robair @ Tue Oct 16, 2018 2:30 pm
SAAB Gripen.
Thanos @ Tue Oct 16, 2018 2:44 pm
If it's Lockheed it'll just be another rip-off, another wildly over-priced jet that performs worse in certain roles than the ones designed on old-style drafting desks back in the early 1970's ever did.
peck420 @ Tue Oct 16, 2018 2:46 pm
Don't worry, it will perform flawlessly in the profits envelope.
CDN_PATRIOT @ Tue Oct 16, 2018 2:54 pm
F/A-18 SuperHornet or F-15X all the way.
-J.
Robair @ Tue Oct 16, 2018 2:58 pm
Sorry, in the interest of national security, no military procurement can be made from a country that sees us as a threat to national security.
herbie @ Tue Oct 16, 2018 3:40 pm
Come on you guys claim to be conservatives! Show some fiscal responsibility.
Chengdu J20s off Alibaba. Free UPS delivery included on every order.
Robair @ Wed Oct 17, 2018 6:03 am
herbie herbie:
Come on you guys claim to be conservatives! Show some fiscal responsibility.
Chengdu J20s off Alibaba. Free UPS delivery included on every order.
Chengdu J20s off Alibaba. Free UPS delivery included on every order.
I think the SAAB Gripen is the jet from a friendly nation that most closely matches Canada's budget...
llama66 @ Wed Oct 17, 2018 6:22 am
herbie herbie:
Come on you guys claim to be conservatives! Show some fiscal responsibility.
Chengdu J20s off Alibaba. Free UPS delivery included on every order.
Chengdu J20s off Alibaba. Free UPS delivery included on every order.
Sold. I'll take 150. Bulk orders gets me a discount.
martin14 @ Wed Oct 17, 2018 6:31 am
Did they put a paint job on the flooded F-22s in Florida ? 
llama66 @ Wed Oct 17, 2018 6:38 am
martin14 martin14:
Did they put a paint job on the flooded F-22s in Florida ?
Some assembly required.
BartSimpson @ Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:01 am
Robair Robair:
Typhoon.
Do not buy American.
Do not buy American.
Canada should join the EU.
Thanos @ Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:08 am
Robair Robair:
Sorry, in the interest of national security, no military procurement can be made from a country that sees us as a threat to national security.
Yup. If we're a threat to them they should ban their salesmen and lobbyists from trying to sell any equipment to us at all. Save the fun stuff for their good friends in Riyadh instead - "brand-new JDAMs for sale - haven't missed a single Yemeni school bus yet!".