Quand on regarde d'un peu plus près cet article, on sent bien qu'il ne s'agit pas de presse spécialisée.
"The plan, which is part of the review of the Air Self-Defense Forces' fighter units, will be incorporated into the new five-year Defense Buildup Program that is to be drawn up by the end of this year. "
Un nouveau plan? C'est la mode en ce moment. On se pose beaucoup de question en matière de défense. En passant, rappeler vous que le Japon, pour la première fois depuis 1945, et contre l'avis de la majorité de son opinion publique, à en gagé des troupes en ops extérieure (Surtout pour du soutien, ok)
"The agency has concluded that the F-2 is the least cost-effective of all available options, making it necessary for the agency to procure an alternative aircraft. "
Un F-15EJ, par exemple??
"Under the new defense plans, to be drawn up under the new National Defense Program Outline, the agency also intends to shift from the current three-model fighter system--the F-15, F-4, and F-2--to a two-model system. "
Tout est dis.
"-- The F-2 had become too expensive after development delays caused its unit price to rise from the originally projected 8 billion yen to about 12 billion yen, or about the same as the larger, more capable
F-15. "
Encore lui!!!!
"While the F-15 is being upgraded, there is little room to upgrade the F-2 with new equipment because of its smaller size. "
Evidement. D'ailleurs, le F-16, qui est encore plus petit, n'as jamais évolué en 30 ans...
"The F-2 can carry only a limited number of weapons. "
Mouais, à vérifier. Certainement au moins autant que le F-16....mais moins qu'un F-15E(J???)
"In selecting the model, Tokyo indicated it wanted a domestically developed aircraft, despite pressure from Washington to buy U.S.-made fighters to help cut Japan's trade surplus with the United States"
C'était le premier pas en avant.
"In 1987, the Tokyo made a partial concession to Washington, agreeing to base the F-2 on the U.S.-made F-16 fighter. "
Et la, le premier en arrière...
Bientôt un deuxième???