Aircraft
Japan Firms Up on F-35B; F-16s Approved for Taiwan
Japan formalizes its intent to buy STOVL F-35Bs, while Taiwan’s long-held desire to receive more F-16s finally gets U.S. approval
Japan is to get the STOVL version of the F-35 to complement its F-35As. In August, JASDF F-35s resumed flying after a post-crash stand-down. (photo: JASDF)
Japan is to get the STOVL version of the F-35 to complement its F-35As. In August, JASDF F-35s resumed flying after a post-crash stand-down. (photo: JASDF)

As expected, the Japanese Ministry of Defense formally approved the acquisition of 42 Lockheed Martin F-35Bs to operate from short airstrips and the Izumo-class helicopter carriers, which are to be modified to be capable of F-35 operations. The brief August 16 announcement follows the December 2018 publication of Japan’s Medium-Term Defense Plan, which outlined the intention to buy F-35Bs.


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