Article Posted on : - Dec 20, 2011

F-35 Lightning II. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (BNS): The Japan Ministry of Defense has announced its selection of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II as the Japan Air Self Defense Force's (JASDF) next generation fighter aircraft, following the F-X competitive bid process.

The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant (CTOL) was offered by the United States government with participation from Lockheed Martin, according to the company news release.

The initial contract will be for four aircraft which begins April 1, 2012.

"We are honoured by the confidence the Japanese government has placed in the F-35 and our industry team to deliver this 5th Generation fighter to the Japan Air Self Defense Force," Bob Stevens, Lockheed Martin chairman and chief executive officer said in the company statement.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment.

Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.