DTN News - JAPAN DEFENSE NEWS: Lockheed Stealth Jet May Beat Out Boeing In Japan
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 5, 2011: Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense company, is counting on stealth technology to beat Boeing and Eurofighter in a Japanese fighter contest that may be worth more than $4 billion.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has better anti-radar capabilities than Boeing's F-18 Super Hornet and Eurofighter's Typhoon, as it was specifically designed in a shape that would be hard to detect, said Craig Caffrey, a London-based analyst at IHS Jane's DS Forecast, which advises defense suppliers.
That may give the plane an edge as Japan has tried to buy stealth fighters that can be used for spying as well as combat.
"Stealth capabilities are clearly an area of focus for the Japanese," Caffrey said. "It's a key advantage for the F-35 over the rest of the competition."
Japan will accept bids this month to supply about 40 fighters as it bolsters air defenses to counter military developments in China and North Korea.
The contest comes as Lockheed sheds jobs because of projected cuts in U.S. military spending, which may include a reduction in F-35 orders, and after the Bethesda, Md.-based company missed out on an $11 billion Indian order for fighters this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment