US State Department okays possible $23 bln sale of F-35s to Japan
The United States has approved the possible sale of 105 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets to Japan worth approximately $23 billion.
The approval by the US State Department came on Thursday after Japan had requested 63 F-35A and 42 F-35B aircraft, 110 Pratt and Whitney F135 engines, as well as related equipment.
It would take 25 years to implement the proposed sale, including providing technical support and training, the department noted.
"It is vital to US national interest to assist Japan in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-defense capability," the State Department said.
It also noted the suggested sale would not affect the military balance in the region.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The deal is the second largest foreign military sale approved by the US in history, after a $29.4 billion sale of Boeing F-15SA fighters and relevant weapons to Saudi Arabia in 2010.
Allies assemble jets F-35 jets, which are made at a Lockheed Martin factory in Fort Worth, Texas, for themselves at two final assembly and check out facilities in Japan and Italy.
In March, the Pentagon announced Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was shutting down the Japanese plant for one week because of the coronavirus.
The sale of F-35s to Japan is not finalized yet and Tokyo still needs to accept the deal.
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