Japan’s newly revised National Defense Program Guidelines and new Mid-Term Defense Program were approved on Dec. 18. The country will go ahead to buy 42 F-35Bs.
Sgt. 1st Class MilagrosLaura Laura [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The government has also agreed to convert the Izumo-class helicopter destroyers into aircraft carriers.
For a start, 18 F-35Bs will be procured within five years. Another 63 F-35As will be purchase as well.