Hacker News Reader

I thought they would buy the F-35B model with all the talk of putting them on their helicopter destroyer.

Japan is also considering a F-35B purchase according to the article.

It just didn't make sense to buy more F-35A when they might buy the B model. Combined with the X-2 / F-3 development, I'm trying to figure out a why.

The B has limited payloads, range and is more maintenance-intensive. There's little reason using them outside of STOL carrier fleet.