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Aerospace & Defense Industries

Japan reverses course on F-35, will continue assembly at home

Tokyo ends plan to import finished jets from US as Mitsubishi Heavy cuts costs

The F-35 stealth fighter is made by U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin.   © Reuters

TOKYO -- Japan intends to continue assembling F-35 stealth fighters domestically, reversing plans to import the finished aircraft from the U.S., Nikkei has learned.

Since Tokyo adopted the F-35A fighter jet in fiscal 2011 under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has assembled and conducted final checks on aircraft sold to the country by Lockheed Martin.

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