次期戦闘機、三菱重との契約調整　基幹部分担当、日本主導に道筋―防衛省

　防衛省は２８日、航空自衛隊Ｆ２戦闘機の後継となる次期戦闘機の開発について、基幹部分の設計・製造を担うメーカーとして日本企業１社と契約を結ぶ方向で最終調整に入った。三菱重工業と協議を続けており、同社が受注する公算が大きい。複数の政府・与党関係者が明らかにした。
　機体やエンジン、システムといった基幹部分の開発を日本主導とすることで、改修の自由度を確保。併せて日本の防衛産業の生産基盤や技術レベルを担保する狙いだ。（2020/07/28-21:47）

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. is likely to win orders for engines and other core parts of Japan's next fighter jet, informed sources said Tuesday.
   The Defense Ministry is in talks with MHI, while planning to conclude a contract with a domestic manufacturer on the development of a successor to the existing F-2 fighter of the Air Self-Defense Force, according to the sources.
   The ministry will formally decide the contractor as early as October and aims to map out plans for joint development and technical cooperation with U.S., British and other companies by the end of this year.
   Foreign companies that have shown interest in the project include Lockheed Martin Corp. of the United States and Britain's BAE Systems.
   On the F-2 successor development, the ministry will select a single company to oversee the development process, rather than have direct contracts with multiple companies, in order to improve coordination among participating companies.