Joint Strike Fighter: What about Japan ?

After the F- 2, is Japan to become a partner of the Joint Strike Fighter's program ?

Tokyo based sources claim that a US official conveyed the US administration hope that Tokyo will cooperate to the JSF project. Financial reasons.

"Other Countries Potential JSF customers include current operators of F-16, F/A-18, and AV-8B"

" Lockheed Martin leads a JSF F-35 team that includes Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems as program partners. The Lockheed Martin team capitalizes on the objectives of service commonality and improved affordability in a low-risk fighter design. The United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, along with the British Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, have combined efforts to produce a low-cost, technologically advanced jet fighter..."

In: http://www.jsf.mil/NSFrames.htm