The Defense Ministry proposed Thursday that Japan host a maintenance hub in the Asia-Pacific region for the F-35 stealth fighter under development by an international consortium, as it outlined a draft strategy to bolster the domestic defense industry under new arms export rules.
The ministry presented the outline to the Liberal Democratic Party just days after the Abe administration adopted new principles and guidelines to relax Japan's arms export ban, the first major overhaul in nearly half a century.
Although details still need to be worked with the United States, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.'s Komaki Minami Plant in Toyoyama, Aichi Prefecture, is seen as a candidate site for the maintenance hub, as the company will assemble the fighter jets.