Mitsubishi Corporation built a number of famous aircraft during World War II, including the famous A6M “Zero” naval fighter
but Japan stopped developing and manufacturing combat aircraft after the war
The country, for decades, produced American combat aircraft under license
Japan is the only country authorized to produce the US F-15 fighter jet
Currently, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force owns 156 F-15J fighters (equivalent to F-15C)
and 45 F-15DJ fighters (equivalent to F-15D)
Japan is also planning to upgrade 98 F-15J fighters with advanced avionics to improve combat performance
In the 1970s, to replace the obsolete fleet of F-104 Starfighter and F-4EJ Phantom II
the Japan Self-Defense Agency examined the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle as a replacement
In December 1975, the F-15 was announced the winner, with the government intending to purchase 187 F-15J/DJs
By April 1978, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was designated as the primary contractor and licensing for the F-15C/D
Initially, the aircraft were produced in the U.S. and exported to Japan
This initial export production contributed to aircraft development under the defense industry of Japan while facilitating base production of aircraft
achieving the goal of producing a fighter to Japan's requirements
In March 1984, new F-15Js began replacing the 203rd Tactical Fighter Squadron's F-104Js at Chitose Air Base
-15J/DJs are identical to F-15C/Ds aside from the ECM, radar warning system, and nuclear equipment
The AN/ALQ-135 Internal Countermeasures System is replaced by the indigenous J/ALQ-8
and the AN/ALR-56 Radar Warning Receiver is replaced by the J/APR-4
The engine is the Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan, produced under license by IHI Corporation
Some aircraft still have an inertial measurement unit, an old type of the Inertial navigation system
All F-15J/DJs have two UHF radios, which are also VHF capable
The F-15J is characterized by an indigenous data link, but they do not support Link 16 FDL mounted by USAF F-15Cs
It works as a basic bidirectional link with the Japanese ground-controlled intercept network, and it is limited because it is not a true network
F-15Js have been equipped with the Japanese-built AAM-3 missile, an improved AIM-9 Sidewinder follow-on with distinctive "barbed" forward fins
Japan has been investigating an advanced fighter to replace the F-15, meanwhile the F-15J fleet is being modernized
In late October 2019 the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency
approved a possible sale to Japan of up to 103 APG-82 Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars
116 Advanced Display Core Processor II Mission System Computers and 101 AN/ALQ-239 Digital Electronic Warfare Systems
for the upgrade of 98 F-15Js to a "Japanese Super Interceptor" configuration for an estimated cost of $4.5 billion
It can also carry a large air-to-surface weapon on its centerline weapon station
such as an AGM-158B JASSM-ER or AGM-158C LRASM, giving the aircraft an air-to-ground and anti-ship capability
In July 2020, Boeing signed an agreement with MHI to provide assistance and support to the program
Work is set to start in 2022