August 21, 2010
Tokyo, Aug. 20 (Jiji Press) -- Japan's Defense Ministry on Friday expressed its willingness to allow conversion of military aircraft into civilian planes, denying the view that sales of converted aircraft overseas will infringe the country's three principles on arms export.
It is necessary to set up a concrete system to enable the military-to-civilian conversion, which will help reinforce the foundation of the nation's defense industry and technology, the ministry said in a report.
Specifically, the ministry proposed to allow private-sector companies to remake Self Defense Forces planes in return for their payment of fees to use associated technical data held by the ministry.
As for deals that will enable the ministry to cut costs and enjoy technological benefits, the fees will be halved, according to the report.
Subject to the civilian conversion will be the Air SDF's XC-2 transport jet and the Maritime SDF's XP-1 surveillance plane and US-2 flying rescue boat. The XC-2 and XP-1 will succeed the currently used C-1 and P-3C planes, respectively.
(2010/08/20-23:52)
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