Japan Planning on Ordering F-35Bs, a Multipurpose Aircraft Carrier

a reply to: RadioRobert
Makes you wonder why they bother having a FACO site in Japan then? The cost of labor in Japan today is much higher than it was 40 years ago. Thats a small part of the reason why the F-2 was costly, small run over a lot of years in a high labor cost country equal expensive jet, same will happen here, although for final assembly as opposed to overhaul to a lessor extent.
I still haven't heard how the US Govt will get around the sensitive issue of Korea not wanting to have their F-35's overhauled in Japan. Last I heard they were talking about maybe doing it in Aus.

a reply to: thebozeian

FACO will close ~2020 when they finish the first batch. They'll still have the MRO&U duties. Apparently they are ditching some of the local licensed production as well (Melco for some of the mission planning components [NG] and IHI some of the F135 parts for PW) according to Jane's. So sounds like they are rearranging workshare to keep/expand all the MRO&U work. Maybe some trade imbalance pressure, as well. Not sure.