Japan F35: Japan could buy 100 additional F-35 fighters

TOKYO: Japan plans to buy up to 100 F-35 stealth fighters from the United States for more than $ 8.8 billion as it seeks to counter China's growing military presence in the region , reported a newspaper Tuesday.

The announced purchase comes as President Donald Trump is pushing Japan to buy more military equipment and other US products, thus highlighting Washington's huge trade deficit with Tokyo.

Japan has already decided to buy 42 F-35 stealth fighter jets in the United States and is now planning to buy another 100, worth more than one. trillion yen (8.8 billion USD), according to the evening edition of the Nikkei. Daily.

The cabinet is expected to approve the plan in mid-December when the country's defense program guidelines will be published, the business daily reported.

A Defense Ministry spokesman refused to confirm the report, saying only: "Everything about additional purchases is under study."

In September, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly told Trump: "It is important to have high quality military equipment, including American equipment, to strengthen Japan's defense. . "

Tokyo is also considering upgrading its helicopter carriers to carry and launch fighter jets, Kyodo News reported, citing a government source.

The government is seeking to modernize Izumo, a flat-roofed destroyer that currently transports helicopters, into a full-fledged aircraft carrier that is vital to China's badertion in the maritime field , announced the local news agency.

China deploys its first stealth fighter to military service during the last major milestone in the modernization of the country's armed forces.

Izumo-clbad aircraft carriers, with a capacity of 19,500 tons – the largest ships of the Japanese navy after the war – measure 248 meters (818 feet) long and can carry up to 14 helicopters.

The plan should also be finalized when the guidelines will be published next month, he added.