米、日本へのＦ３５売却承認　１０５機、総額２兆４８００億円

　【ワシントン時事】米国務省は９日、最新鋭ステルス戦闘機Ｆ３５計１０５機と関連機器の日本への売却を承認し、議会に通知した。売却総額は推定約２３１億ドル（約２兆４８００億円）。金額ベースでは、２０１０年にＦ１５戦闘機８４機やミサイルなど総額２９４億ドル（約３兆１５００億円）のサウジアラビアへの売却を承認したのに次ぎ、過去２番目の規模となる。
　売却されるのは、空軍仕様のＦ３５Ａ６３機、短距離離陸・垂直着陸能力を持つ海兵隊仕様のＦ３５Ｂ４２機など。日本政府は１８年１２月の閣議で、中期防衛力整備計画（中期防）に沿い、旧型のＦ１５戦闘機を置き換えるために、Ｆ３５を１０５機追加調達し、計１４７機体制にする方針を了解していた。（2020/07/10-09:15）

The U.S. Department of State on Thursday approved the sale of 105 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Japan.
   The deal is estimated to be worth about 23.1 billion dollars, or some 2.48 trillion yen. It will be the second largest sale of military equipment by the United States since the country approved the sale of 84 F-35 fighters, missiles and other equipment to Saudi Arabia for 29.4 billion dollars in 2010.
   The department notified Congress of the deal to sell to Japan 63 F-35A jets that meet U.S. Air Force specifications and 42 F-35B jets built for use by the U.S. Marine Corps with short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.
   The Japanese government decided in December 2018 to make the purchase to replace its outdated F-15 fighter jets and eventually increase its F-35 fleet to 147, in line with the country's Medium Term Defense Program through fiscal 2023.
   "It is vital to U.S. national interest to assist Japan in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-defense capability," the U.S. government said in a statement. "This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region."