[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. government has decided to sell 105 units of the latest stealth fighter jets, the F-35, to Japan and has requested approval from Congress. If all these fighter jets are deployed in Japan, the country is expected to become the second-largest operator of the F-35 after the United States. As Japan's air force is significantly strengthened, the arms race in the Northeast Asia region is expected to intensify further.
According to foreign media including Bloomberg on the 9th (local time), the U.S. government decided to sell 105 F-35 fighter jets and related equipment to Japan for $23.1 billion (approximately 27.8355 trillion KRW) and notified Congress to request approval. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) under the U.S. Department of Defense issued a statement saying, "This sale will enhance the security of a key ally that contributes to political stability and economic development in the Asia-Pacific region, supporting U.S. diplomatic and national security objectives."
The U.S. government approved the sale of 63 F-35A ground-based runway models and 42 F-35B carrier-based models along with related equipment to Japan. Some of the F-35A fighter jets have already been deployed to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The F-35B, capable of short runway and vertical takeoff and landing, is planned to be installed on the large escort ship that Japan intends to convert into a light aircraft carrier. Amid worsening U.S.-China tensions over issues such as the Hong Kong Security Law and China's responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan’s air force, a U.S. ally, is being significantly strengthened, which is expected to further escalate the arms race in Northeast Asia.
Japan's NHK reported that the total price of the 105 F-35s sold to Japan is the second-largest amount in the U.S. government's foreign arms sales, following the sale of fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. has also agreed to provide technology and training support to Japan for 25 years following the fighter jet sale.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
