Japan, together with Britain and Italy, will develop a next-generation fighter

The Japanese government has decided to jointly develop a new Mitsubishi FX fighter for the Air Self-Defense Force together with Great Britain and Italy.

According to Asahi Shimbun, the official cooperation agreement is expected to be signed next month.

The next-generation combat aircraft will be developed by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and British defense giant BAE Systems. The fighter should eventually replace the Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 aircraft.

Italy’s leading aerospace and defense company Leonardo will also participate in the development.

Japan’s IHI Corporation and British aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce will play a major role in the development of new engines for the fighter. They are expected to be joined by Italy’s Avio, which also deals in aircraft engines.

According to the Japanese publication, Tokyo also plans to review the three principles of the transfer of defense equipment and technology to allow the new combat aircraft to enter the foreign market.

As previously reported, the FX will be twin-engined. It will receive deflected keels, which will act as a rudder for height and direction in the absence of a horizontal tail. The aircraft will receive internal compartments for weapons.

The new fighters will complement the Japanese fleet of F-35 combat aircraft manufactured by the American Lockheed Martin.

The project image of the new fighter was published by the Ministry of Defense of Japan back in 2019. The creation of a new aircraft is a response to the growth of China’s military power.

It was previously expected to begin the production of the first Mitsubishi FX prototype in 2024, and flight tests in 2028. At that time, it was assumed that the board would be developed exclusively by Japanese industry. But it is currently known that the aircraft will probably be introduced by the mid-2030s.

Last year it became known that Japan decided to develop an engine for the promising FX fighter with the help of Great Britain.

In December 2021, the United Kingdom government officially confirmed an agreement with Japan to participate in the development of an engine demonstrator for a next-generation fighter jet. Britain will invest £ 30 million in the first phase in planning and digital design, and then another £ 200 million in the creation of a full-scale demonstrator of the power plant.