1st Japan-assembled F-35 fighter unveiled

Hopefully they are a deterrent, and never have to be used for real war against anyone else.

Very cool. Ironic that over 70 years ago Lockheed P-38 Lightnings were dogfighting Mitsubishi Zeros over the south Pacific. Japan should now buy some F-35Bs to put on their helicopter carriers.

Unless i am thinking of a different plane, has this type of fighter even seen any actual combat and is instead continually plagued by problems and well over both it's budget and maintenance hours?

ARTICLE 9. (1) Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

(2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

well...only another public blatant violation of Japan constitution by the govt and Mitsubishi as a jet fighter is certainly to be categorized in "air forces" or you should not call it "fighter", only imaginary loophole that does not exist is allowing such of situation to happen.

Just about every fighter we've made since the F-15 Eagle hasn't seen any actual combat and is instead continually plagued by problems and well over both it's budget and maintenance hours.

Ozzie said -

"....As the war machine keeps turning...."

Those jets are mainly used as a stealth reconnaissance planes primary, and they can fight back if engaged. Also can be used for stealth bombing and simmilar tasks.

That's why you never heard of any combat involvement with those planes. ;)

" Citizen2012 Today 08:55 am JST

well...only another public blatant violation of Japan constitution"

Which is exactly why the second paragraph of Article 9 needs to be amended. Using this F-35 as an example is way too late as the Lockheed F-104 was made under license by Mitsubishi and was in use from 1962 to 1986,

Great stuff! Hopefully they can act as a deterrent

How many school places, hospital beds or food for the hungry is that single plane equivalent to? And times 42?

with our failing economy, we just gave america 42 expensive planes to play with and the lives our military.

China's economy is failing? Hadn't heard that.

Nice, the domestic production of this plane in Japan will add many jobs. And F-35 is a real deterrent against China, NK and Russia - three main threats to peace and security in the region.

OssanAmerica: "Which is exactly why the second paragraph of Article 9 needs to be amended. "

Yeah, or... you know... follow the law instead of rewriting the laws to suit your own and make money off death.

How many daycare centers could you open and pay for with the cost and maintenance expenses of this weapon?

II wonder what the difference between the US and JP models are.

Citizen2012 Today 08:55 am JST

An F35 fighter jet is a defensive weapon. Unlike bombers, fighters only intercept incoming enemy plains. Since Japan does not have any bombers, it is impossible for Japan to engage in an invasive war with fighters only. So, they are not considered "war potential".

@gogo.. 0.. I was in the US and helped build Japan's first 2.. and many others for US and other countries..

How many daycare centers could you open and pay for with the cost and maintenance expenses of this weapon?

Ok, and if they didn't have them, and by extension, no other defense capabilities either, just how many daycare centers would you be able to open?

I wonder what the difference between the US and JP models are.

The JP models are right hand drive and the speedo is in KPH not MPH :-)

Norway thought they were lemons and pulled out of their deal.

Wonderful analysis here on Quora https://www.quora.com/What-went-wrong-with-the-F-35

"How many daycare centers could you open and pay for with the cost and maintenance expenses of this weapon?"

Exactly what i was going to say. No wonder Abe said the government had no money for day cares. As well as the other comment about beds and medical equipment or even getting the homeless off the streets. What about planting more potatoes? Make potato chips, not war!

"An F35 fighter jet is a defensive weapon. Unlike bombers, fighters only intercept incoming enemy plains. Since Japan does not have any bombers, it is impossible for Japan to engage in an invasive war with fighters only. So, they are not considered "war potential"."

They will have them with the new planes because you can "strap" bombs to them. So it is not only for defense.

CH3CHO -

the F-35 is very very capable of offensive action.

It can carry a wide assortment of missiles, rockets, & bombs.

As can a number of other self-defense force aircraft such as the F-2, F-4, F-15j, P-1 etc.

All can be considered attack weapons.

Just because the powers to be say they are for defense, doesn't mean they don't have the potential for offense.

Get rid of ALL the "War Machines"..and see how long your country lasts against the "War Machine" of china and North Korea..fools.

the moment it carries heavy weapons it is no longer stealth. The assortment it can carry under stealth is not useful. Also it can't dogfight. Also it's single engine so have limited range. It's a litany of failed design

Just because the powers to be say they are for defense, doesn't mean they don't have the potential for offense.

As can be said for just about everything about the Self "Defense" Forces of Japan.

Everybody should be able to protect itself. These 42 planes are very expensive and represent about 40 dollars for every person in Japan

I am just curious why I and others are getting negative responses when all we are doing is telling you the specifications of the plane. (With me the added benefit of what the money could of been used for instead.) Haha! I mean it is not like I and others here came up with the design.

"Get rid of ALL the "War Machines"..and see how long your country lasts against the "War Machine" of china and North Korea..fools."

So why didn't China or NK attack before these new planes of Japan?

The F designates a Fighter, RF would be a Recon Fighter.

Don't have a SR(Stealh Recon) designation.

Tavi cozma

"Those jets are mainly used as a stealth reconnaissance planes primary, and they can fight back if engaged. Also can be used for stealth bombing and simmilar tasks."

LOL, thanks for the laughs. So you honestly believe, in this satellite-drone age that anyone will ever use such an expensive jet for reconnaissance?

Did they fix the air supply problem to pilots mask?

Defense necessitates the capacity to hit back at an agressor, a purely reactive defense would guarantee defeat.

"The best defense is a good offense" Clausewitz.

I've seen many messages about the problems of this plane, yet people have to understand that these planes are very advanced, I dare anyone to make a simple Baseball ball from scratch. But its a plane that can attack without seeing an enemy and without them seeing him, its not easy, just look at the F22, costs twice than an F-35 and the Russian T-50 that only has 10 prototypes. And maybe will never get to production

In theory, there's no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is