Japan’s Raptor Itch: Why Tokyo Insists on the F-22

"Tokyo is obsessed with the F-22 and has spent several years lobbying Washington to release the plane for export. So far, it has been unsuccessful. There are many practical, performance-based reasons why the Japanese want the F-22. Aside from those, the F-22 is a symbol of Japan’s standing in the global order, especially with regards to the rest of Asia and the United States. Despite talk of the Eurofighter or Super Hornet filling Japan’s 40+ aircraft F-X program requirement, only the F-22 will really do. Here’s why."
War is Boring