December 11, 2006: Efforts to sell the U.S. F-22 fighter to Japan fell apart when Japan insisted that it be allowed to produce the stealth fighter under license. Japan has been allowed to produce many high-tech American weapons under license, and has a good record of keeping technology secrets secret. But apparently the F-22 goodies were considered too valuable to be let out of the United States. The Japanese consider the F-22 an excellent aircraft, but too expensive (at about $200 million per aircraft for an export version.) Manufacturing the F-22 in Japan would have at least given a boost to Japan's aircraft industry. That was another, unspoken, reason for refusing the Japanese a production deal.