Japan postpones its F-15J upgrade programme
The JASDF’s plans to upgrade its fleet of F-15J fighters has hit a snag - money - as estimated programme costs soar.
Japan will postpone funding of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15J upgrade programme to the FY2021 budget, because costs have increased significantly from initial estimates.
Originally, the price was estimated at JPY4.8 billion ($46 million) per F-15J. Now the estimated cost has risen to about JPY6.4 billion each.
The MoD had planned to upgrade 20 F-15Js in a five-year period, according to the FY2019-2023 Medium-Term Defense Plan, and it had budgeted JPY10.8 billion ($104 million) to upgrade two F-15Js in the FY2019 budget.
However, the budget for the remaining 18 F-15Js has not been requested for a second consecutive
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