Alas, poor Japan. They just cannot catch a break. First there was the "lost decade" of economic stagnation (now going on its third decade.) Then the earthquake-cum-tsunami-cum-nuclear meltdown. Now, on top of everything else, it seems the Japanese will likely get stuck with buying their second favorite fighter jet.
For years, Japan has tried to convince the U.S. Congress to sell it Lockheed Martin's
Now, with its favorite fighter verboten, Japan must choose between Boeing's
Foolish takeaway
Boeing isn't giving up easily. In fact, they've offered Japan the right to produce Super Hornets in-house if they like, through a "licensed production" agreement. But considering Japan had its heart set on a fifth-generation fighter all along, I doubt even this sweetener will make them settle for Boeing's fourth-gen bird.
Is Rich right? Will Lockheed land this multibillion-dollar foreign arms sale? Add it to your Fool watchlist and find out.