U.S. -Japan Fighter Aircraft: Agreement on F-2 Production
Abstract
The FS-X fighter aircraft program, now the F-2,1 is the first U.S.-Japan joint development and production of a weapon system, marking a significant departure from previous licensed production agreements between the United States and Japan. The early stages of the program were characterized by strong congressional concerns regarding the terms of the codevelopment agreements. In particular, Congress was concerned about the enhancement of Japans aerospace industry through the transfers of U.S. technology to Japan, and the value of Japanese technologies to be transferred to the United States. This is an unclassified version of our 1997 classified report. This report examines the status of the F-2 fighter aircraft program as development nears completion and provides information on the agreements signed on July 30, 1996, by the two countries for the production phase of the program. Specifically, we address the following issues: (1) the proportion of production work that will be done in the United States and how the U.S. workshare will be calculated and monitored, (2) the status of technology transfers from Japan to the United States and whether these technologies are of interest to the U.S. government and industry, and (3) the programs potential contributions to Japans future aerospace plans. This report responds to a requirement that we periodically review the F-2 program. This requirement is part of the conference report for the fiscal year 1990 appropriations act for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State; the Judiciary; and related agencies. It also responds to a request from the House Minority Leader that we examine aspects of the production phase agreements signed by the two countries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 11, 1997
- Accession Number
- AD1157114
Entities
People
- Henry Hinton
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office