TOKYO -- The Japanese government plans to expand its capacity to service U.S. fighter jets stationed in Japan, strengthening bilateral defense cooperation in East Asia.


Currently, F-18 and the latest F-35 fighter jet models based at U.S. bases are serviced and repaired in Japan. Tokyo aims to include the F-15 and F-16 jets in this arrangement by 2025 at the earliest. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI, which already service aircraft for Japan's Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF), are slated to be the primary service providers.