Fort Worth, Texas, USA. At the company Lockheed Martin is in full swing production of several tens of F-35.
The Ministry of Defense has already paid for an order for 101 F-35 fighter. By 2016, their number will be increased to 220 in 2018 to 428 aircraft. In the future, about 3000 of these aircraft will stand for service bases in 12 countries around the world, including Japan, South Korea and Israel. Japan intends to purchase for themselves 42 such machines. Cost of acquisition and maintenance are projected at about 1.6 trillion yen (540 billion rubles - approx. Lane.).
In the international project on joint development of the F-35, which started in the early 2000s, involved nine countries, including the USA and the UK. According to former employees of the Ministry of Defense, the Japanese candidate was also considered to participate in development, but was immediately removed by the Japanese side. The reason was that the project is contrary to the three principles set out in Japan on Arms Exports, which extend to the export of parts made in Japan. Currently, Japan is struggling to take part in the production of the F-35, but does not have enough for this performance.
Last year the government made a painful choice: to deliver or not parts of Israel - a country participating in hostilities. As a result, exports have been approved as an exception. Officials from the government report: "We did not want to plant to assemble the F-35 was not built in Japan, and in some other countries in the Asia-Pacific region." Plants, it was decided to build in the United States, Japan and Italy. Japan's emphasis on what is an important ally in the region, as Tokyo looks forward to receiving a certain level of access to a wide field of technical information.
However, CEO Marilyn Hewson said: "The details of the United States government decides." It is expected that Japan will manufacture the tail of the F-35, but the access to information is severely limited. Japanese mills will conduct maintenance and repair, but clearly their responsibilities have not been determined.
In addition, the number of fighters that country will be able to use is determined by the contract with Lockheed Martin. Self-Defense Forces of Japan also will not be able to service the aircraft, created as a result of international cooperation. The representative of the Japanese government gives this comment: "If you go to the extreme of all countries have put into service the F-35 will not be able to go to war against the United States."
Japan Self-Defense Force will fly the F-35 more than 30 years, but a monopoly on the fighters that will be the core of Japan's security will be in the hands of the United States. The Japanese government has found criticism of this situation: "It may end up that security issues will be addressed under the dictation of the United States."
Japan was late with the participation in the international development of the F-35. The biggest reason for this - the rejection of the purchase of American F-22 fighters, called the strongest in the world.
Employee Self-Defense Forces of Japan explains that if we take the visibility radar primary current Self-Defense Force fighter F-15 for the "tatami" (area of the mat is 90 × 180 cm - approx. Lane.), Then the F-35, it will be a "little bird ", and the F-22 - with" insect ".
The end of March, the American base "Kadena." F-22 fighter takes off into the sky of Okinawa. Wing Commander Echols, base commander, said: "These aircraft were designed to keep the air supremacy. They can be called "innovative."
F-22 F-outperforming 35 not only by stealth, but also on the speed and maneuverability. If we take the example of a dogfight with the latest Chinese fighter Jian-20, the improved F-15 will be with him as an equal, F-35 will have the advantage, and the F-22 "will win a complete victory." At the same time control of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces have already mentioned that «F-15 - a trouble-free plane."
Information on the F-22 is stored even stricter. Lieutenant Colonel Echols says, "We only disclose data on energy consumption and cost. Even if the plane will copy all the power they will never reach the level of the American army. "
Meanwhile, the engine nozzle, which are open for all to see in the F-35, are covered in the F-22 panel, reminiscent of the cover. The fact that the main ingredients for success in stealth Stealth aircraft is: 1) a form that lets reflect radar waves, 2) coating that absorbs the probing wave, 3) low heat.
Beginning in 2007, the F-22 months based on the basis of Kadena and participated in joint exercises with the Japan Self-Defense Forces. However, during exercise the F-22 specifically disable the feature stealth fighters and reflected on the radar of the SDF.
In the early 2000s, Japan began to choose a fighter to replace the F-4. The F-22 has become one of the favorites. In fact, the United States then considered the option to export the F-22 to reduce the cost due to the increase in production volumes.
However, the Minister of Defense Gates (at the time) sharply criticized the F-22: "It is a legacy of the Cold War, it is a waste of money." It recommended the introduction of the F-35. Embassy of Japan in Washington tried to find out what people think about it from the American government and Congress, in their replies sounded strong opposition: "The problem is the protection of classified information." There was even a warning: "If Japan lifts his to purchase the F-22, the alliance between the United States and Japan may falter." In 2009, the American Congress voted to phase-out of the F-22 because of the high cost and the need to protect information. Now the United States possess a complete monopoly on the plane.
Even on the issue of collective self-defense on the one hand the United States welcomed the increase in the load on Japan, on the other - continue to conceal key information, such as nuclear deterrence. Careful hiding critical data even in respect of the allied countries - in this strategy the United States.
America retains the technological development of Japan
In 2007, one important person, of those who are called "walking encyclopedia of secret data", visited the Research Centre for Technology, Ministry of Defense of Japan. This man was from the manual Skunk Works - undercover unit Lockheed Martin, responsible for military development. One look at the model airplane, decorate Research Center, it was enough to indicate its main shortcomings.
The model is the result of developments begun in the 2000s. It was a test model was used in the preparatory stage production of fighter aircraft with stealth technology in Japan. The representative of the Self-Defense Forces of Japan, who came to the meeting with the American, said: "It seemed that he had come to inquire about the status of Japanese technology."
Japan had suffered a lot from the United States to put into service the F-22 and F-35. However, this does not happen the first time.
In 1987, Japan was visited by the inspection of the American Department of Defense. The main item on the agenda was the selection of the new fighter Self-Defense Forces of Japan. Self-Defense Forces and the Japanese producers were desperate to get the right to full production fighter in Japan. USA offered the American aircraft production under license. Japanese senior official says: "We think that they are worried about the fact that Japanese technologies are insufficiently developed."
Japan tried to dispel all concerns of the American side and enthusiastically describe their achievements. However, after a visit to Japan, the position of the Americans has become even tougher. In the autumn of the same year it was decided to joint US-Japanese development of the F-2.
After a few years he was head of the American Research Center report shocked the United States Army with the assessment of the selection of the next-generation fighter the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. The report was written: "The United States had failed in maintaining the technological hegemony." American responded: "The United States were amazed by the technological development of Japan, which exceeded all expectations, I knew that they were trying to stop him."
At the same time during a collaborative development Americans Japan technology gained from producing composite materials. It is believed that they later played a role in creating a low-profile fighter Stealth.
Production of F-2 was completed in 2011, so ended the story of this fighter in Japan.
In February this year the company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which developed a test model of the new fighter, together with the Research Centre technology appealed to the Japanese government to ask for permission for the production of all domestic fighter, superior characteristics of F-35. Companies want to consistently develop its technological strengths and Self-Defense Forces are afraid of complete suppression of the United States on security issues, which is why Japan has the technology, comparable to the American. For these companies, the revival of the Japanese fighter production was greatest desire.
However, it is difficult to say if it will repeat the stealth technology F-35. Development engines also is not on the schedule.
The United States have already begun work on a new fighter. Former senior official said: "The American army has suffered in practice the different characteristics of the aircraft, a supersonic speed and altitude, and above." The first flight test of the Japanese Stealth model is scheduled for later this year, but the development of the fighter, able to participate in the actual fighting, is still in the design stage.
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