Japan to Decide on Aircraft Export Restrictions

May 19, 2010 at 9:40 pm | Posted in Aviation Law | Leave a comment

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From Flight Global:

Joint Strike Fighter catalyst for policy change in Japan
By Leithen Francis

Japan is to decide before the end of the year whether to ease military aircraft restrictions. The government will reveal whether it will allow local manufacturers to be involved in international joint development of military aircraft, and permit the export of Japanese military aircraft.

For decades Japan has had an export ban on military equipment, with the policy also blocking its companies from being industrial partners in international defence programmes, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The major exception to the rule is Japan’s export of missile technology to its major ally, the USA. . . . [Full Story]