WASHINGTON (Kyodo) Japan may think twice about selecting the U.S.-built F-35 as its new mainstay fighter, given the high cost of the aircraft, observers said Thursday.
Obama administration officials told a congressional panel the same day that F-35s are likely to cost $95 million apiece, nearly double the initial estimate.
Tokyo has considered the F-35 the best candidate to replace F-4 fighters currently used by the Air Self-Defense Force. It hopes to make its selection by this fall.