] Despite all its modern features the F-2 becomes outdated by the F-35 f.e.
IMO, even in the 1980s world, when runway at air bases are vulnerable to cruise missiles, and HAS at air bases are vulnerable to PGMs, I’m disappointed that outnumbered and surrounded countries, such as Israel, Singapore, and Taiwan, don’t have a STOVL component in their air forces.
Long before the movie True Lies, I’d been fascinated when I read that the Harrier could operate from a city, instead of an air base, such as using highway ramps for take offs, and hiding in bus terminals and stadiums for rearm and refuel.
] Neither Japan nor Germany were allowed fully autonomous aviation industries.
A few days ago… on 30 September 2006, the domestically produced civilian transport aircraft YS-11, finally retired, after 41 years of service and 182 aircraft.
See
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20061001-00000004-maip-soci
] The first purpose were the technology gains in several key-areas from that program.
Such as “system integration”.
] The F2 is not that great a fighter since it was not designed to be a fighter but a multi-role striker.
Just as the F-15J/F-15DJ replaces the F-4EJ/F-4EJ Kai for anti-air, the F-2A/F-2B replaces the F-1 for anti-ground and anti-ship.
] If I’m not mistaken, because of the treaties after WWII, Japan cannot export any of her weapon systems.
Actually, Japan exported its F-104s (only the first few of which weren’t license-produced by MHI in Japan) to Taiwan. West Germany also exported its F-104s to Taiwan.
Japan also exported domestically produced and unarmed KV-107s (CH-46/CH-47 variant).
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