Japan is risking a rapid loss of fighter engineering skills, an official review of the industry warns, while urging the government to avoid fully importing combat aircraft. Estimates of future engineering effort starkly illustrate an unspoken argument for Japan to buy and develop advanced versions of the Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing F-15 or Boeing F/A-18E/F to fill its requirement for 50 fighters.

Japan Airlines looks increasingly likely to go formally bankrupt, probably under a so-called pre-packaged arrangement that would speed up court-directed reorganization of the carrier. The state bailout agency directing the company’s turnaround is proposing the bankruptcy as part of a plan under which it would inject government capital worth ¥300 billion into the airline, according to a draft that the agency has presented to lenders, the Nikkei newspaper reported.

Indonesia’s Lion Air says it plans to buy 10 new widebody aircraft, either Boeing 777-200ERs or Airbus A330-300s, and introduce them into service this year. Two 747-400s will be retired from service on arrival of the new aircraft, which would be used on routes to Japan, South Korea, China and Australia. Lion Air added four 737-900ERs to its fleet in December (DAILY, Jan. 5).