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Subject: Japan laubches F-X Fighter RFP
jessmo_24    4/15/2011 5:47:25 PM
Japan has formally launched its F-X fighter competition by sending a request for proposals to three potential bidders. Boeing and Lockheed Martin have confirmed a US government representative has received Japan's RFP on behalf of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II, respectively. A UK representative is also understood to have picked up the RFP for a possible bid by the Eurofighter Typhoon. Each bidder should receive a copy of the solicitation soon. Japan has released the RFP just a few weeks after the country was hit by an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, leaving an estimated 26,000 people dead and public safety still at risk. Damage caused by the disasters may have included an entire squadron of 18 Mitsubishi F-2B trainers, at least some of which were engulfed by seawater when the tsunami struck Matsushima air base. Meanwhile, Japan has already started decommissioning its fleet of ageing McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs, which it plans to replace with the F-X fighter. Tokyo had originally expressed interest in importing the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor, but the US Congress decided not to waive or rescind the export ban on the fifth-generation air superiority fighter. Instead, Japan has launched the F-X competition while funding internal development of the ATD-X stealth demonstrator. *ttp://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/14/355568/japan-launches-f-x-fighter-rfp.html
 
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jessmo_24       4/15/2011 5:52:16 PM
Hmm the French NOT invited to the party!?
 
here is the low down.

1. EF: Good A2A high price but work share potential. Probably inferior to new 5th gen Russian CHICOM types.
 2. F-35 High price, and probably The best all around A2A and A2G platform. Stealth will make it on par the regional types.
3. F-18E/F Lowest price, losts of growth. But will be dog meat for the T-50.
 
Discuss
 
 
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Das Kardinal       4/16/2011 7:41:47 AM
Dassault doesn't want to bother. They believe (rather rightfully, given their Korean experience) that Euro planes will only be used as a bargaining chip to get better conditions on US planes, and participating would only be a waste of money.
 
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LB    compromise   4/16/2011 9:16:11 PM
There are a number of nations that had a requirement for an air to air primary mission fighter.  It's been said at this point the F-35 will be superior to any other fighter air to air besides the F-22.  What's lost on many observers are some nations perceive a requirement for an aircraft closer to the F-22 in air to air capability and while they might settle for the F-35, even if others believe it to be more than adequate,  they'd prefer something more optimized for air to air.  One specific area is the higher flying and significantly faster F-22 transferring more energy to it's missiles than the F-35.
 
So Japan, and others, will probably settle for the F-35 even though many would point they are hardly settling.  The only alternative would have been for a collection of nations to invest in a joint program to develop something better than the F-35 air to air, closer to the F-22, which wold have been rather challenging and quite expensive.  Politically it's probably a non starter for Japan given the difficulties of finding a partner(s). Nobody would want to deal with their export restrictions and limit possible sales not to mention the frictions with other regional actors.
 
Finally given a limited production for domestic only application they really can't afford to go it alone without an overwhelming requirement.  The F-2 is a good object lesson.  Japan, South Korea, Israel, and others will probably all "settle" for the F-35.  When China and Russia actually field a 5th gen fighter and it's capabilities are better understood it's possible this issue comes up again. It will be interesting to see whether NGAD (F/A-XX) and eventually the F-22 follow on cleared for export.
 
 
 

 
 
 
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