PICTURES: Mitsubishi
rolls out first Japanese-built F-35
06 JUNE, 2017 - SOURCE: FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM - BY: GREG WALDRON - SINGAPORE
Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries has rolled out the
first Japanese-assembled Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter aircraft.
This is Tokyo's fifth F-35A,
with the first four examples delivered from Lockheed's Dallas Fort-Worth
factory, says the F-35 joint programme office in a statement.
“Seeing the first Japanese built
F-35A is a testament to the global nature of this program”, said vice admiral,
Mat Winter, executive officer of the F-35 programme.
Lockheed Martin
“This state of the art assembly
facility, staffed with a talented and motivated workforce, enables us to
leverage industry’s unique talents and technological know-how to produce the
world’s best multi-role fighter. The F-35 will enhance the strength of our
security alliances and reinforce long-established bonds with our allies through
training opportunities, exercises, and military-to-military events.”
The Japanese Final Assembly and
Check Out (FACO) facility is in Nagoya, where a large part of Japan's aerospace
sector is located.
Lockheed Martin
In 2011, the F-35A won a
competition for a 42-aircraft requirement aimed at replacing Japan's fleet of
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms.
The rollout follows news in late
May that the first two Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilots graduated F-35
programme at Luke Air Force base, where international training for the F-35
programme takes place.
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