Όπως λένε οι Japanese Times στις 6 Σεπτεμβρίου του 2012:
Each F-35 stealth jet that Japan buys from the United States in fiscal 2013 will be 50 percent more expensive than in the current year, according to Defense Ministry officials.
The ministry cited lower production efficiency for the price hike — which will see the acquisition cost soar to ¥15.4 billion from ¥10.2 billion per aircraft — and plans to buy two F-35s in the next fiscal year, the officials said Tuesday.
To this end, the ministry will seek ¥30.8 billion to cover the acquisition costs in the fiscal 2013 budget request it must submit by Friday, they added.
Japan plans to purchase a total of 42 F-35s and signed a contract to acquire the first four at a price of around ¥10.2 billion each in fiscal 2012. The four aircraft are scheduled for delivery by fiscal 2016. Last December, Japan announced it had selected the F-35 to replace the Air Self-Defense Force’s aging fleet of F-4s and become its next-generation fighter jet.
Τι θα σημαίνει αυτό για το πρόγραμμα των Ιαπώνων που ήδη είχαν ανακοινώσει προβληματισμό για την τιμή του F-35 το 2011; Λιγότερα αεροσκάφη; Πάντως το JSF εξελίσσεται σε ένα… μπιζού αξίας!
