Japan steps back from F-35 assembly
Japan completed its first locally assembled F-35 in 2017.
However, Tokyo now plans to wind down F-35 production activities in favour of concentrating on providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for the aircraft.
Source: Lockheed Martin
Japan is preparing to step back from its assembly of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighters and instead concentrate on providing maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade (MRO&U) services for the aircraft, the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA) has confirmed to Jane’s .
A spokesperson for ATLA – an agency under the Ministry of Defense (MoD) – said on 17 January that, under the plan, two local companies will lead activities:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ (MHI’s) Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works in Aichi will provide MRO&U for the F-35 airframe, while the IHI Corporation’s Mizuho plant in Tokyo will provide MRO&U support for the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney F135 engine.
Jane’s 360
https://www.janes.com/article/85838/japan-steps-back-from-f-35-assembly