TOKYO -- U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin proposed combining technologies from two of the world's most powerful fighter jets for Japan's next-generation fleet in a formal proposal submitted by Friday.
In addition to Lockheed, Boeing and Britain's BAE Systems have also offered their own technologies to replace Japan's F-2 fighters, slated to retire around 2030, the Defense Ministry said. Friday was the deadline for proposal submissions. Japan will now weigh these options alongside proposals for a homegrown fighter and joint development with the U.S. or U.K.
