Japanese Ministry gives up on early F-22 introduction

The Defense Ministry has decided to abandon the planned introduction of its next mainstay fighter aircraft (F-X) during the current midterm defense buildup plan, for fiscal years 2005-2009, because the United States will not allow the export of F-22 stealth fighters--Japan's preferred choice for the F-X fighter role--The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

While postponing the fighters' introduction until the next five-year defense buildup plan, which begins in fiscal 2010, the ministry plans to make improvements to the current mainstay F-15s its top priority.

During the current buildup plan, the ministry plans to procure seven new fighter jets to replace outmoded F-4s.

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