Twelve Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters of the JASDF's 302nd Squadron participate in an elephant walk with various US fighter and support aircraft at Misawa Air Base in Japan on 13 May 2022. Japan is moving to procure additional F-35s to improve its combat capabilities. (US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern)

Japan is moving ahead with plans to upgrade or retire older combat aircraft and procure additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. This is said to be a response to what Tokyo perceives as a worsening security situation in the region.

The Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) told Janes that about 70 Boeing (Mitsubishi) F-15 Eagles serving with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) are to be upgraded. In its 2022 defence budget, Japan has also allocated JPY130 billion (USD899.5 million) to procure 12 new F-35A/B fighter aircraft.

Japan said it will spend JPY77.9 billion to procure eight F-35As. In addition, JPY52.1 billion will be spent to procure four F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft.

The MoD told Janes

Twelve Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters of the JASDF's 302nd Squadron participate in an elephant walk with various US fighter and support aircraft at Misawa Air Base in Japan on 13 May 2022. Japan is moving to procure additional F-35s to improve its combat capabilities. (US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern)

Japan is moving ahead with plans to upgrade or retire older combat aircraft and procure additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. This is said to be a response to what Tokyo perceives as a worsening security situation in the region.

The Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) told Janes that about 70 Boeing (Mitsubishi) F-15 Eagles serving with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) are to be upgraded. In its 2022 defence budget, Japan has also allocated JPY130 billion (USD899.5 million) to procure 12 new F-35A/B fighter aircraft.

Japan said it will spend JPY77.9 billion to procure eight F-35As. In addition, JPY52.1 billion will be spent to procure four F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft.

The MoD told Janes

Twelve Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters of the JASDF's 302nd Squadron participate in an elephant walk with various US fighter and support aircraft at Misawa Air Base in Japan on 13 May 2022. Japan is moving to procure additional F-35s to improve its combat capabilities. (US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern)

Japan is moving ahead with plans to upgrade or retire older combat aircraft and procure additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. This is said to be a response to what Tokyo perceives as a worsening security situation in the region.

The Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) told Janes that about 70 Boeing (Mitsubishi) F-15 Eagles serving with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) are to be upgraded. In its 2022 defence budget, Japan has also allocated JPY130 billion (USD899.5 million) to procure 12 new F-35A/B fighter aircraft.

Japan said it will spend JPY77.9 billion to procure eight F-35As. In addition, JPY52.1 billion will be spent to procure four F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft.

The MoD told Janes

Twelve Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters of the JASDF's 302nd Squadron participate in an elephant walk with various US fighter and support aircraft at Misawa Air Base in Japan on 13 May 2022. Japan is moving to procure additional F-35s to improve its combat capabilities. (US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern)

Japan is moving ahead with plans to upgrade or retire older combat aircraft and procure additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. This is said to be a response to what Tokyo perceives as a worsening security situation in the region.

The Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) told Janes that about 70 Boeing (Mitsubishi) F-15 Eagles serving with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) are to be upgraded. In its 2022 defence budget, Japan has also allocated JPY130 billion (USD899.5 million) to procure 12 new F-35A/B fighter aircraft.

Japan said it will spend JPY77.9 billion to procure eight F-35As. In addition, JPY52.1 billion will be spent to procure four F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft.

The MoD told Janes

Twelve Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters of the JASDF's 302nd Squadron participate in an elephant walk with various US fighter and support aircraft at Misawa Air Base in Japan on 13 May 2022. Japan is moving to procure additional F-35s to improve its combat capabilities. (US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern)

Japan is moving ahead with plans to upgrade or retire older combat aircraft and procure additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. This is said to be a response to what Tokyo perceives as a worsening security situation in the region.

The Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) told Janes that about 70 Boeing (Mitsubishi) F-15 Eagles serving with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) are to be upgraded. In its 2022 defence budget, Japan has also allocated JPY130 billion (USD899.5 million) to procure 12 new F-35A/B fighter aircraft.

Japan said it will spend JPY77.9 billion to procure eight F-35As. In addition, JPY52.1 billion will be spent to procure four F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft.

The MoD told Janes

Twelve Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters of the JASDF's 302nd Squadron participate in an elephant walk with various US fighter and support aircraft at Misawa Air Base in Japan on 13 May 2022. Japan is moving to procure additional F-35s to improve its combat capabilities. (US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern)

Japan is moving ahead with plans to upgrade or retire older combat aircraft and procure additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. This is said to be a response to what Tokyo perceives as a worsening security situation in the region.

The Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) told Janes that about 70 Boeing (Mitsubishi) F-15 Eagles serving with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) are to be upgraded. In its 2022 defence budget, Japan has also allocated JPY130 billion (USD899.5 million) to procure 12 new F-35A/B fighter aircraft.

Japan said it will spend JPY77.9 billion to procure eight F-35As. In addition, JPY52.1 billion will be spent to procure four F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft.

The MoD told Janes