Report: Lockheed Eyes Hybrid Aircraft Design as Bid for Japan’s Stealth Fighter Program

Lockheed Martin plans to propose a hybrid of the company’s F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor jets to compete for Japan’s potential $40 billion stealth fighter aircraft program, Reuters reported Friday.

Sources told Reuters that Lockheed will formally offer its fighter jet design once it gets U.S. government approval to propose the aircraft for the East Asian country’s F-3 program.

“We look forward to exploring options for Japan’s F-2 replacement fighter in cooperation with both the Japanese and U.S. governments,” said a spokeswoman for Lockheed.

The Japanese government sought data from foreign defense contractors on the proposed F-3 program through a third request for information issued in March and provided the U.S. and U.K. governments with a document to detail requirements for the proposed fighter jet.

The report said Japan also aims to seek responses from BAE Systems and Boeing on the F-3 program.