The purchase of stealth fighters for Japan Air Self Defense will be discussed during Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister's visit to the United States on February, reports our sister newspaper, Want Daily.
Abe stressed that the Defense Plan Outline and Mid-term Defense Program (FY2011-FY2015) approved by Yoshihiko Noda, his predecessor, will both be revised. Under his new direction, the structure of the self defense force will be expanded.
After his meeting with Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, on Jan. 18, Fumio Kishida, the Japanese foreign minister returned to Japan to arrange Abe's visit to the US on Feb. 20. Abe plans to sign a contract worth US$1.3 billion to purchase four fifth generation fighter jets from the US. The contract will also give Japan license to assemble those four stealth fighters domestically.
Read the full story at Want China Times