Which Countries Produce US-Fighter Jets Under License?

Summary Japan produced US F-15s and F-16s, and is producing F-35s under license. Italy operates an F-35 assembly facility for European partners, including assembling F-35Bs. Israel modifies F-35As with domestic technology and was permitted unique modifications by the US.

While most US-origin fighter jets are produced in facilities in the United States, some are produced (or assembled) under license in other countries. The US F-16s, F-15s, and F/A-18s are only produced in the US, but there are two international final assembly and check-out facilities for the F-35 Lightning II . Elsewhere, China and India have historically produced hundreds of Soviet and Russian fighter jets under license (and India is debating producing more Russian Su-30s under license).

Japan locally produces US fighter jets Japan is probably the best example of a country that has produced US fighter jets under license. The Japanese Air Force combat jet fleet comprises F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Eagles, and F-35 Lightning IIs, all built in Japan under license. Japan has a fleet of F-15 Eagles designated F-15J and F-15DJ (the training variant).

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd, produced 213 of these starting from 1981. Mitsubishi also produced Japan's fleet of 98 F-16s (locally designated F-2A/F-2Bs), the first of which was delivered in 2000. Additionally, Mitsubishi produced 140 now-retired F-4 Phantom IIs under license.

Japan's combat fleet (per FlightGlobal ) Quantity: Original Aircraft: F-2A/F-2B: 86 F-1.