Report: Japan to buy F-35 fighter jets

TOKYO, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Japan is planning to purchase four advanced F-35 fighter jets to lead the country's air defense arsenal, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

The Tokyo government Friday is expected to officially name the Lockheed Martin Corp. fighter as a successor to Japan's current F-4 fighter jet. A budget of $710 million for 2012 will be requested to cover the cost of procurement. Defense officials eventually hope to deploy about 40 F-35s, The Yomiuri Shimbun said.

The newspaper said the U.S. government has promised that the first jets will be delivered to Japan during fiscal 2016.