Japan to jointly develop new fighter jet with UK, Italy

Tokyo: Japan has announced that it will jointly develop its next-generation fighter jet with the United Kingdom and Italy as it looks to expand defense cooperation beyond its traditional ally, the United States.

The Mitsubishi F-X fighter jet will replace the aging fleet of F-2s that Japan previously developed with the United States.

The nations will merge their current plans for development of next-generation planes - the F-X and Britain’s Tempest, a successor to the Eurofighter Typhoon - to produce the new combat aircraft for deployment in 2035.

The deal will give Japan



greater support in countering China’s growing assertiveness and allow Britain a bigger presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The announcement came four days after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida set spending targets aimed at building up Japan’s military capability, including a huge boost in defense spending over the next five years.  

To counter growing threats from China and North Korea, Japan has been expanding its defense partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific, including Australia, with Southeast Asian countries and with Europe.