Japan seeks ‘future fighter’ to help protect disputed island chain from China
- Japan wants domestic firms to spearhead design and development of the new aircraft but will join forces with foreign manufacturers to replace F-2 jet
- Its main focus is the remote islands in Okinawa Prefecture claimed by China as the Diaoyus but controlled by Japan, which calls them the Senkakus
The new aircraft is earmarked to replace the F-2 fighter, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin but based heavily on the F-16 Fighting Falcon used by the US military. The last of the 98 F-2 jets will be retired around 2035.
Japan has also committed to buying 147 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning aircraft but insists development of its newest fighter must be led by domestic firms with input from foreign manufacturers, likely from the US or the UK.
Defence officials want a prototype available for testing as soon as 2024, national broadcaster NHK reported, and for mass production to start by 2031. A list of requirements, to be finalised this month, is expected to include advanced stealth capabilities. A domestic manufacturer will be announced this year, according to the new timetable, with an international partner selected within the next 12 months, NHK reported.
According to Garren Mulloy, a professor of international relations at Daito Bunka University, the new fighter will complement the F-35, which was selected for political reasons but did not ultimately meet the needs of the Air Self-Defence Force (ASDF).
“In October 2011, the government published a long and detailed explanation of why it was choosing the F-35 over the Typhoon, the Rafael or the Super Hornet, which were all already operational, while the F-35 was still in the early stages of testing,” he said.
“One of the main reasons behind the decision was they thought it would help to develop Japan’s aviation sector but the F-35 is not the aircraft the ASDF wanted. The ASDF wanted a twin-engined, long range aircraft that is especially capable of operating over water.”