Since the disappearance of an F35A from the Japanese self-defense forces on April 9 over the Pacific, 85 miles from the Japanese coast, the entire fleet of Lightning IIs displaying the rising sun was grounded. According to the public channel NHK, this restriction is about to be lifted, without however specifying the effective date of this decision.
The disappearance of the aircraft, and its pilot, led to an intense rescue mission, but also intended to recover as many parts of the missing plane as possible, with the aim of discovering the reasons for the accident, and above all to prevent Chinese, Russians or North Koreans from getting their hands on the technologies embedded in Lockheed's jewel. However, only a few elements of the fuselage and the F135 engine were discovered, making it impossible to discover the reasons for this accident. The body of the pilot has not been found either.
This accident did not, however, prevent the government of Shinzo Abbé from placing an order for 105 additional F35s from Lockheed, aircraft which were also entirely built in the United States, so as to rebalance the balance of exports with the United States. in accordance with the strong expectations of President Trump. The order consists of 63 F35As which will be added to the 42 already ordered in 2011 to replace the F4 Phantoms which have become obsolete, which will replace part of the 200 Japanese F15Js, and 42 F35Bs, the short takeoff and landing version, intended for be embarked on the two Izumo-class helicopter-carrying destroyers deployed by the Japanese Navy, and which will be modified for the occasion.
In total, the Japanese air forces will deploy, by 2030, nearly 145 F35s, 160 modernized F15Js, and 80 Mitsubishi F2s, local version of the F16, or almost 400 modern aircraft. The country is also engaged in a program aimed at designing a new generation heavy fighter, in response to the United States' refusal to deliver the F22 Raptor hoped for by Tokyo. However, for the moment, no firm decision concerning this program, of which the Mitsubishi X2 prototype was to be the demonstrator, has been announced, despite numerous proposals for assistance from Lockheed, Boeing, or BAe.