Japan plans to choose the U.S.-made F-35 Lightning II stealth jet as its next-generation mainstay fighter, government sources said Tuesday.
To replace the country's aging F-4s, Japan had been considering three models, including the F/A-18 Hornet made by Boeing Co. of the U.S. and the European-designed Eurofigher.
The decision will be formally made Friday by the Security Council of Japan, chaired by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the sources said.
According to the sources, the government is eyeing the eventual acquisition of about 40 of the new jets, which also go by the name Joint Strike Fighter and whose production is being led by Lockheed Martin of the United States.
The procurement costs for the first four airplanes are to be included in the draft budget for fiscal 2012, which starts in April, the sources said.
In its budget request filed earlier, the Defense Ministry asked for ¥55.1 billion in procurement costs.
While the government intends to import the first four completed planes for the initial fiscal year, it wants Japanese firms to eventually handle as much of the production as possible, the sources said.
The Defense Ministry has been trying to make its selection based on such criteria as stealth and information-processing capabilities, level of participation of domestic firms and support systems after purchase of the fighter.
Manufacturers of the three fighter jets submitted their proposals in September.