With US F-35s grounded over potential oil leaks and potential buyers retreating and cutting their intended orders, it is crucial for Lockheed Martin to persuade Japan to complete its purchase of the the stealth fighters as soon as possible, says the China Youth Daily.
Dave Scott, Lockheed Martin's director of international customer engagement for F-35s, in an interview with Fuji Television Network dismissed claims that the Russian T-50 and Chinese J-20 qualify as fifth-generation fighters. The US F-35 is the only fifth-generation fighter aircraft that deserves Japanese investment, he said.
Scott said the essential element of fifth-generation fighter aircraft lies not only in their stealth capability but also in the integration of the sensor fusion that allows a boost of 5%-10% to its thrust, 5% to its military rating and 25% to its fuel efficiency. These factors combine to increase its combat radius by 25%-30% and durability by 30%-40%. He further emphasized that new engines and the Multifunction Advanced Data Link developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) — initially planned for sixth-generation fighter aircraft — have instead been adopted and integrated into the F-35, making the plane an ideal bargain for Japan.
Read the full story at Want China Times