Japan selected the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter on Tuesday to replace aging jets in its air force and bolster its defense capability amid regional uncertainty.
Japan's initial order is for 42 and these planes will replace their elderly F-4 Phantoms. With F-15s the high end of their 350+ fighter force, I assume the F-35 will eventually replace the rest of Japan's fleet of Eagles and locally made F-2s.
I assumed the F-35 would be Japan's choice since Japan needs the best it can get to make up for small numbers. And Japan needs to work closely with American planes. The F-35 checks both of those boxes. The F-18 checked one (in US Navy use). The Typhoon managed one (high quality, though not as good as the F-35).
I'll note, as I always try to do when I comment on something related to Lockheed Martin, that I have a tiny amount of Lockheed Martin stock. I wouldn't miss it if it disappeared tomorrow, but there you go. I will say that quarterly dividend checks earn me more in a year than my savings account ...
