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BAE in talks with Mitsubishi
BAE Systems, Europe's biggest arms manufacturer, is in discussions to license the manufacturing of the Eurofighter jet to Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy if the aircraft wins an export competition worth tens of billions of dollars.
A purchase of the Eurofighter Typhoon would signal a watershed for Japan, which until now has bought fighters only from the US, its closest military ally.
But there is a growing sentiment among bureaucrats and politicians that Japan should collaborate more with European companies in order to have better access to cutting-edge technology.
Nigel Whitehead, group managing director of BAE's military air solutions, said yesterday that Japan had this year expressed an interest in buying a European fighter for the first time.
"There is a sense of lost opportunity within the Japanese defence forces in the nature of the collaboration programmes they could be involved in beyond the confines of their relations with the US," Mr Whitehead told the Financial Times.
But analysts say cosying up to the Eurofighter consortium could be a ploy to press the US on price and access to highly sensitive technology. Japan's air force wants to buy the F-22 Raptor, built by Lockheed Martin, but current US law prohibits its export.
Tokyo is also considering Lockheed's F-35 Lightning II, which is already on order with a number of foreign air forces, including the UK and Italy. Tokyo will also assess Boeing's F-15 Eagle and F-18 Hornet.
BAE is in discussions with Mitsubishi Heavy (MHI) about a progressive licence manufacturing agreement, Mr Whitehead said. "The idea is that we would transfer the ability to manufacture the aircraft to [Mitsubishi] and they could have the ability to upgrade and develop the aircraft themselves."
A delegation from Mitsubishi, which declined to comment last night, and the defence ministry travelled to the UK earlier this year to see the Typhoon's production site. Japanese pilots also tested the Typhoon, made by a consortium comprising BAE, EADS, the Franco-German defence group and Italy's Finmeccanica.
Japan needs to replace its fleet of 90 F-4 Phantoms, which went into service in 1971, and also plans to retire 200 F-15 fighters. The defence ministry is understood to be studying all available options and will make a final decision by early next year. The procurement deal could run to tens of billions of dollars.
The attraction of the Typhoon is that Mitsubishi – which manufactures the F-15 under licence from Boeing – could continue developing its technological expertise by building a next-generation fighter. Transfers of F-35 technology could be more sensitive.
Takatoshi Hosoya, president of the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies, Japan's biggest industry consortium, said yesterday that he would like to see greater links with European companies. "In terms of the size of business [the relationship with European aerospace companies] is still limited compared with US firms."
BAE Systems, Europe's biggest arms manufacturer, is in discussions to license the manufacturing of the Eurofighter jet to Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy if the aircraft wins an export competition worth tens of billions of dollars.
A purchase of the Eurofighter Typhoon would signal a watershed for Japan, which until now has bought fighters only from the US, its closest military ally.
But there is a growing sentiment among bureaucrats and politicians that Japan should collaborate more with European companies in order to have better access to cutting-edge technology.
Nigel Whitehead, group managing director of BAE's military air solutions, said yesterday that Japan had this year expressed an interest in buying a European fighter for the first time.
"There is a sense of lost opportunity within the Japanese defence forces in the nature of the collaboration programmes they could be involved in beyond the confines of their relations with the US," Mr Whitehead told the Financial Times.
But analysts say cosying up to the Eurofighter consortium could be a ploy to press the US on price and access to highly sensitive technology. Japan's air force wants to buy the F-22 Raptor, built by Lockheed Martin, but current US law prohibits its export.
Tokyo is also considering Lockheed's F-35 Lightning II, which is already on order with a number of foreign air forces, including the UK and Italy. Tokyo will also assess Boeing's F-15 Eagle and F-18 Hornet.
BAE is in discussions with Mitsubishi Heavy (MHI) about a progressive licence manufacturing agreement, Mr Whitehead said. "The idea is that we would transfer the ability to manufacture the aircraft to [Mitsubishi] and they could have the ability to upgrade and develop the aircraft themselves."
A delegation from Mitsubishi, which declined to comment last night, and the defence ministry travelled to the UK earlier this year to see the Typhoon's production site. Japanese pilots also tested the Typhoon, made by a consortium comprising BAE, EADS, the Franco-German defence group and Italy's Finmeccanica.
Japan needs to replace its fleet of 90 F-4 Phantoms, which went into service in 1971, and also plans to retire 200 F-15 fighters. The defence ministry is understood to be studying all available options and will make a final decision by early next year. The procurement deal could run to tens of billions of dollars.
The attraction of the Typhoon is that Mitsubishi – which manufactures the F-15 under licence from Boeing – could continue developing its technological expertise by building a next-generation fighter. Transfers of F-35 technology could be more sensitive.
Takatoshi Hosoya, president of the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies, Japan's biggest industry consortium, said yesterday that he would like to see greater links with European companies. "In terms of the size of business [the relationship with European aerospace companies] is still limited compared with US firms."
