Sale of F-22s to Japan in doubt

[unhappycamper]

Sale of F-22s to Japan in doubt
Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, January 1, 2009

Japan likely will drop its plan to buy the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter as a replacement for its aging F-15 fleet and instead focus on three other candidates, according to U.S. and Japanese media reports.

Its availability is uncertain because of signs that President-elect Barack Obama is leaning toward reducing or even halting production of the costly jet.

Japan’s alternatives include the F-15FX, built in the United States, and the F-35 Lightning II, produced in the U.S., Britain and elsewhere, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday. The Defense Ministry also is considering the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Lockheed Martin builds the F-22 at factories in Georgia and Texas.

No one was available for comment on the matter Tuesday at U.S. Forces Japan headquarters on Yokota Air Base, said Marine Corps Master Sgt. Donald Preston, a USFJ spokesman.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59732