WASHINGTON, April 3 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin said Monday it had received an order for components for five new F-2 fighters as Japan continues beefing up its military forces.
Lockheed provides avionics and fuselage components to the plane's prime contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and now has 86 of the advanced jets under contract. The latest order is valued at $150 million.
"We have also begun support of MHI as they and the JASDF (Japan Air Self Defense Force) consider and incorporate specific new systems and weapons onto the F-2 to enhance its operational flexibility and capability," said Lockheed Program Director Jim Shidler.
Japan recently authorized construction of 94 F-2s, which are shipped to the Mitsubishi plant in Nagoya for assembly. The first planes were delivered in 2000, and Japan currently has 71 F-2s in its inventory.
The F-2 is a Mach 2 air-dominance aircraft based on the design of the U.S. F-16. It can carry guided ordnance, air-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles.
Tensions stirred up in the region over North Korea's nuclear weapons program has contributed to the Japanese modernization program even though the U.S. Air Force recently deployed its cutting-edge F-22 Raptor to Japan.
