THE JAPAN DEFENCE Agency (JDA) has provisionally requested funding in the 1996 fiscal year budget to purchase a total of 85 new military fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
The Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) seeks 42 aircraft, the Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) wants 26 and the Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) requires 17 aircraft.
At the top of the JASDF list is a tentative request for the first production batch of 12 Mitsubishi FS-X support fighters.
Other projected air force purchases include, five tandem-seat McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi F-15DJ fighters, 15 Kawasaki T-4 trainers, three Gulfstream U-4 utility aircraft, four Raytheon U-125A maritime search-and-rescue jets and three Sikorsky/ Mitsubishi UH-60J helicopters.
The JGSDF request is for ten Bell/Fuji UH-1Js, seven McDonnell Douglas/Kawasaki OH-6Ds, five UH-60JA Black Hawks, two Boeing/Kawasaki CH-47Js and two Bell/Fuji AH-1S anti-tank helicopters.
Aircraft sought by the JMSDF include eight SH-60J shipboard anti-submarine helicopters, two UH-60J rescue versions, a Sikorsky MM-53E mine-countermeasures machine and a Lockheed/Kawasaki UP-3D electronic-warfare-training aircraft.
Source: Flight International
