Slater Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 Looks like a fairly significant order: https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/japan_20-18.pdf 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Seems to be the order of a long announced one, no? There was talk about licence manufacturing them along the ~40 first batch... not sure what is the final say on it though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Interesting that 42 of them will be “B” jump jet versions ? That's a first for the Japanese, they never operated any version of the Harriers ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EwenS Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 But it’s only recently that they have been acquiring ships capable of using them. Hyuga class helicopter destroyers from 2009. 19000 tons full load. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyūga-class_helicopter_destroyer Izumo class multi purpose operation destroyers from 2015. 27000 tons full load.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-class_helicopter_destroyer Remember the Invincibles were around 20000 tons. These are carriers in all but name but it is the introduction of the latter that seems to have made the choice inevitable. That and defending various bits of rock/ coral around the region where only small airfields, if any, exist. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimpyboy Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 (edited) So, another nail in the F-2‘s coffin? Edited July 11, 2020 by Blimpyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EwenS Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 The coffin was sealed, if not buried, back in 2011 when Mitsubishi announced that the production line was closed after the last of 94 production aircraft had been completed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blimpyboy Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Sigh, countdown to the withdrawal from service, then. A pity, it actually made the F-16 look good! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 4 hours ago, Blimpyboy said: Sigh, countdown to the withdrawal from service, then. A pity, it actually made the F-16 look good! There was a brief chance for an F3.... but seem they noted that this is not feasable alone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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