Japan Eyes Typhoon & Rafale
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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Japan Eyes Typhoon & Rafale
Japan plans to upgrade Air Force with new fighters
TOKYO, March 19 (RIA Novosti) - Japan is considering the possibility of upgrading its outdated fleet of F-4 fighters with advanced European aircraft, an anonymous source at the Defense Ministry said Monday. Japan currently has about 60 F-4 Phantom strike fighters known for their extensive use by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines during the Vietnam war.
"We are considering the Eurofighter Typhoon or the French-manufactured Rafale among others," the source said. "Japan believes that the U.S. F-22A Raptor fighter is a wonderful aircraft, but its purchase has to be approved by U.S. Congress and that poses a serious problem," he said.
The export sale of the F-22, which is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jointly produced by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, is barred by the U.S. legislation......
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Fallout, perhaps, from the statement from Washington that the F-22 would not be offered to Australia if requested. The chances of Japan getting acces would therefore be low, and they wouldn't take the chance of losing face by asking.
I wonder when the USA will catch onto the fact that they're losing the top end of the market...
TOKYO, March 19 (RIA Novosti) - Japan is considering the possibility of upgrading its outdated fleet of F-4 fighters with advanced European aircraft, an anonymous source at the Defense Ministry said Monday. Japan currently has about 60 F-4 Phantom strike fighters known for their extensive use by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines during the Vietnam war.
"We are considering the Eurofighter Typhoon or the French-manufactured Rafale among others," the source said. "Japan believes that the U.S. F-22A Raptor fighter is a wonderful aircraft, but its purchase has to be approved by U.S. Congress and that poses a serious problem," he said.
The export sale of the F-22, which is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jointly produced by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, is barred by the U.S. legislation......
---------------------------------------------
Fallout, perhaps, from the statement from Washington that the F-22 would not be offered to Australia if requested. The chances of Japan getting acces would therefore be low, and they wouldn't take the chance of losing face by asking.
I wonder when the USA will catch onto the fact that they're losing the top end of the market...
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Losing the top end??
ORAC,
I don't reckon they are losing the top end, rather they are ring-fencing it in their age old US xenophobic way.
It would be better described as not bothering to compete in the higher middle range until Dave appears on the street.
In their typically over-confident Yank way, they then assume that everyone will want to buy Dave.
My 111th post. Maybe I should make it my last in respect of the venerable swing-winged chariot....... (Awaits spears!)
I don't reckon they are losing the top end, rather they are ring-fencing it in their age old US xenophobic way.
It would be better described as not bothering to compete in the higher middle range until Dave appears on the street.
In their typically over-confident Yank way, they then assume that everyone will want to buy Dave.
My 111th post. Maybe I should make it my last in respect of the venerable swing-winged chariot....... (Awaits spears!)
Last edited by antipodean alligator; 20th Mar 2007 at 04:10. Reason: Add Postscript
