Japan has asked for 63 conventional F-35A & 42 F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing aircraft, and also plans to build its own stealth fighter by 2031.
The new concept is a spin-off from the hollow titanium blisk (bladed disk) of the Trent 700 engine and also derived the Rolls-Royce LiftSystem for the Pratt and Whitney F-135 vertical lift engine for F-35B.
Rolls Royce is hoping the IAF will select it’s Trent 700 engine over the GE CF-6 engine for the Airbus A-330 MRTT aircraft and is relying on performance, costs and market leadership to make its case.