2016-09-24 With traditional Japanese taiko drums providing a dramatic aural backdrop, Kenji Wakamiya, State Minister of Defence, Japanese Government, came to the stage to discuss the significance of the rollout of the first F-35 for Japan.
The State Minister of Defense Japan on the Roll Out of the First Japanese F-35 from SldInfo.com on Vimeo.
“With its low observability and network capability, the F-35 is the most advanced air system with cutting-edge capability as a multi-role fighter.
As the security environment surrounding Japan has become increasingly severe, because of its excellence, it is very significant for the defense of Japan to commit to acquiring the F-35 year by year.
Given that the United States Government has designated Japan as a regional depot in the Asia-Pacific area, introduction of F-35A to Japan is a perfect example, enhancing the Japan-US alliance.”
He then concluded with a core point about the F-35 in the context of evolving Japanese defense industrial relationships as well:
“Today is not simply the roll out of a new fighter aircraft but it is an historic new step in the partnership between Japan and the United States and our Air Forces and our defense industries.”
Then Gen. Yoshiyuki Sugiyama, JASDF Chief of Air Staff, spoke and noted that: “The F-35A has remarkably advanced system.
This highly sophisticated 5 th generation fighter will bring a great development to air operations as a game changer.
In integration with current JASDF assets, it surely promises to enormously contribute to not only the benefit of our national defense and but also regional stability.”
The press release for the event discussed it as follows:
Senior Japanese and U.S. government officials joined Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) to celebrate the roll out of the first Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II, marking a major milestone in Japan’s enhanced national defense and strengthening the future of the U.S-Japan security alliance.
The ceremony was attended by more than 400 guests from both governments, militaries and defense industries.
Kenji Wakamiya, Japan’s State Minister of Defense spoke at the event, saying, “With its low observability and network capability, the F-35 is the most advanced air system with cutting-edge capability as a multi-role fighter. As the security environment surrounding Japan has become increasingly severe, because of its excellence, it is very significant for the defense of Japan to commit to acquiring the F-35 year by year.
The F-35A is expected to fulfill an important central role in Japan’s air defense system. Given that the United States Government has designated Japan as a regional depot in the Asia-Pacific area, introduction of F-35A to Japan is a perfect example, enhancing the Japan-US alliance.”
Gen. Yoshiyuki Sugiyama,JASDF Chief of Air Staff, said, “The F-35A has remarkably advanced system. This highly sophisticated 5th generation fighter will bring a great development to air operations as a game changer. In integration with current JASDF assets, it surely promises to enormously contribute to not only the benefit of our national defense and but also regional stability.”
Other distinguished guests attending included: Dr. Hideaki Watanabe, commissioner of Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces, and Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and CEO.
“The men and women of Lockheed Martin are honored to bring the exceptional capability of the F-35A to our partners and friends in Japan,” said Hewson. “The security alliance between Japan and the United States has been a cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region for generations, and we are proud to continue that legacy of cooperation with the rollout of the first F-35A to the Japan Ministry of Defense and the Japan Air Self Defense Force today.”
Japan’s F-35 program includes 42 F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing aircraft, acquired through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program. The first four aircraft are built in Fort Worth and the remaining 38 aircraft will be built at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Final Assembly & Check-Out facility in Nagoya, Japan, where aircraft assembly is underway. Maintenance training for the first JASDF F-35A technicians is underway at Eglin AFB, Florida, and the first JASDF F-35A pilots are scheduled to begin training at Luke AFB, Arizona, in November.
As the article above mentions, the bulk of the Japanese F-35s will be built at the Nagoya facility.
The Nagoya FACO will be the second international F-35 production facility. The other is located at Italy’s Cameri air base. Nagoya has always been the focal point of Japan’s aviation industry. The aircraft being built at the plant will be the fifth one delivered to the Japanese forces.
Additionally, the US Department of Defense selected the Nagoya FACO in 2014 for the North Asia-Pacific regional heavy airframe Maintenance Repair Overhaul & and Upgrade (MROU) facility.
FORT WORTH, TX, UNITED STATES
09.23.2016
Courtesy Video
2016-03-05
In this video produced by the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the Japanese look back to 2015 and the evolution of the strategic environment and the evolution of the Japanese Self Defense Force.
For a look at the Japanese rethink on defense see the video below which was released by the Japanese MOD on March 14, 2014: