US MIGHT sell f-22 to Japan

tphuang said:

the operating radius of J-10 is about the same as su-27. Even the operating radius of JF-17 is around that range. The reason is that although J-10 has smaller fuel tanks than su-27, it is also much smaller, so obviously the fuel burn at a slower rate. Of course, the recent purchase of the IL-78 refuelers do help in ushc operations.

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Is that with internal or external tanks? the su-27 can do the 1500km all on internal tanks, but im not sure about j-10. Not even the twin engine f-15 can do 1500km on interanl tanks alone.

I really cant imagine a mission where china would fly a j-10 over japan, so its safe to say the japanese f-22s would never face the j-10.

I believe that selling a batch of F/22 to the JASDF would be detrimental to Japanese/American relations in the Asian Pacific.

Currently, Sino-Japanese relations are still weltering from Japanese revision of history, and repeated visits of the Yasukuni shrine. North Korea is whimsical in nature, and have frozen the nuclear negotiations. It also views American/Japanese presence as a threat (obviously).

The US have stated, in their best interest, not to off set the status quo of the region. IE. Taiwan's move to eraticate it's reunification council.

To sell F/22 to the JASDF would imply US intrest would be to support Japanese militarism, and to quell the rise of China hawkishly rather diplomatically. (The US are trying to sway influence from India/Pakistan, but they do it diplomatically)

Simpley put, if the F/22 were to be sold to the JASDF the US must be prepared for the consequence.