Global Combat Air Programme

Development of the Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft

Securing air superiority is a prerequisite for executing various operations for the defense of Japan and takes on a character as public goods, which is essential for the defense of Japan.

Given this importance of fighter aircraft, countries are focusing on fighter aircraft development and other efforts, and Japan’s neighboring countries are also engaged in efforts such as increasing their fleets of fourth and fifth generation fighters, and developing fifth generation aircraft.

Against this background, to ensure air superiority in the future requires Japan-led development of a next-generation fighter which can:

achieve unprecedented new modes of warfare,
be upgraded in a timely manner to improve capabilities, and
be supported by a domestic maintenance base that ensures high readiness.

The Ministry of Defense (MOD) , along with the UK and Italy, is developing an advanced fighter aircraft which will ensure future air superiority, while combining the technological advantages of and sharing the costs and risks.

Air Superiority and the Role of Fighter Aircraft

Air superiority refers to the condition in which one side can carry out airborne operations without suffering a significant level of obstruction by the opposing force in cases of an armed attack. By securing this, it is possible to carry out maritime or ground operations under the airspace.

If Japan were to lose air superiority, not only aircraft in flight, but also ground-based missile units, Aegis ships at sea, and even ports and airports would come under attack from enemy aircraft and missiles, making it difficult to operate ships and aircraft.

Thus, air superiority is a prerequisite for executing various operations for the defense of Japan and takes on a character as public goods, which is essential for the defense of Japan.

Therefore, it is critical to rapidly deploy fighter aircraft in the airspace around Japan and prepare to defend against aerial attacks by aircraft and missiles of enemies invading from a long distance away. Given this importance of fighter aircraft, countries are focusing on the development and purchase of fighter aircraft.

As stated above, air superiority is vitally important for various defense operations and can be considered as public goods. Given that completely depending on other countries to secure air superiority would lead to a loss of operational initiative, Japan focuses on developing highly capable Fighter Aircraft Units that enable active national defense, while also securing a manufacturing base for fighter aircraft in Japan.

Transition of Fighter Warfare

Significant changes in air-to-air combat due to development in missiles technology and information sharing network technology
Fighter warfare has changed from visible-range “dog-fight” to long distance combat. Today, stealth capability and advanced sensing technology is vital
New generation fighter has overwhelming advantage over previous-generation fighters

(F22 has 108 to 0 shoot-down rate against previous-generation fighters)

Development and Deployment of Fighter Aircraft in the Region around Japan

China has rapidly deployed fourth- and fifth-generation fighters (Su-35, J-10, J-20), and is continuing development of its latest J-31 fifth-generation fighter. It is necessary to pay close attention to the pace of increase of China’s fourth- and fifth-generation fighters in the future.

Russia has promoted the development of Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, in addition to the introduction and deployment of Su-35 fourth-generation fighter. It is also developing the heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle “Okhotnik,” which is to fly in coordination with the Su-57.

The U.S. has been developing and deploying F-22 and F-35 fifth-generation fighters ahead of the rest of the world. The number of fifth-generation fighters in the U.S. fighter aircraft fleet is increasing.

JASDF Fighter Structure

Japan currently possess 3 types of fighter aircraft; F-35, F-15, and F-2
To succeed the F-2, scheduled to retire around 2035, development of the next-generation fighter aircraft started in 2020

Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft Concept

Ensuring ‘air superiority’ around 2035 requires, Japan-led development of a next-generation fighter which can;

achieve unprecedent ways of warfare,
be upgraded in a timely manner to improve capabilities, and
be supported by domestic maintenance base that ensures high readiness

Japan-U.K.-Italy Joint Development

The MOD conducted discussion with the UK and Italy, under the policy of initiating Japan-led development of a next-generation fighter aircraft, and announced joint development by the three countries in December 2022.

Significance of Joint Development

It is possible to develop an advanced fighter aircraft which will ensure future air superiority, while bringing together technological advantages and sharing the costs and the risks among the three countries.
It is possible to maintain and reinforce Japan’s defense production and technology bases by increasing the number of mass-produced next-generation fighter aircraft, nurturing the next-generation of engineers with international experience, and appropriate sharing of production. Meanwhile, through the full-scale development of state-of-the-art fighter aircraft, broad ripple effects are expected across society. From Japanese industry, companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, IHI, and Mitsubishi Electric will participate, taking a leading role in joint development while maintaining close coordination with the government.
This will serve as the foundation for broader cooperation with the UK and Italy, in an increasingly severe security environment, and will contribute significantly to peace and stability in both the Indo-Pacific region and Europe. The U.S. also supports such cooperation.

Investment in Technology (Spillover Effect on the Economy)

～Spillover to Wide Range of Technical Fields～

Through the development of a full-scale, state-of the art fighter aircraft, a wide spillover effects can be expected not only in the defense industry, but also in society at large

Joint Development Posture (GIGO)

～Streamlining the Programme with GIGO～

To complete joint development of the next-generation fighter aircraft by 2035, an effective collaboration construct needs to be established
Until 2022, adding Italy, UK’s development partner, to the Japan-UK collaboration, the three countries conducted a joint analyses on the extent of commonality of the aircraft. For efficiency, the contracts placed nationally between each government and industry will be integrated
Reference. In the Eurofighter Programme (UK, Italy, Germany and Spain), the four countries established NETMA (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency) as international government organization, and industries established a joint venture (e.g. the Eurofighter LLC) to promote efficiency

Background on Development of the Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft

August 2010	Published the “R&D Vision on the Future Fighter Aircraft”
December 2010	Described in the Mid-Term Defense Program (FY2011-FY2015) 　→“Strategic consideration will be given to prepare the future fighter development as one of the alternatives for F-2 fighter replacement. ”
December 2013	Described in the Medium Term Defense Program (FY2014-FY2018) 　→“The MOD will promote strategic studies including empirical research to accumulate and enhance fighter aircraft-related technologies in Japan so as to keep an option for development of next-generation fighter aircraft including the possibility of international joint development of an aircraft to replace the F-2 when it is time to retire it. Based on the findings, the MOD will take necessary measures. ”
December 2018	Described in the Medium Term Defense Program (FY2019-FY2023) 　→“With regard to future fighter, SDF will procure new fighters that are capable of playing a central role in future networked warfare before the retirement of the fighter aircraft (F-2). MOD/SDF will promote necessary research and launch a Japan-led development project at an early timing with the possibility of international collaboration in sight. ”
July 2020	Announced the development structure 　→In the FY2020 budget, development costs for initial work were allocated, and a “single prime” structure was adopted for the development structure for the next-generation fighter aircraft. Under this structure, the airframe manufacturer, which is responsible for the integration of the entire fighter aircraft, will take a leading role in development while closely coordinating with the subcontracting manufacturers that are responsible for the engine and the mission avionics.
October 2020	Concluded a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., the aircraft manufacturer responsible for the integration of the entire fighter aircraft
December 2020	Announced the Direction of International Cooperation for the Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft 　→Japan selected Lockheed Martin Corporation of the U.S. as a candidate company for integration support. To ensure Japan-U.S. interoperability, Japan decided to conduct Japan-led development while receiving necessary support and cooperation from the U.S., including launching a new joint project with the U.S. from FY2021. In addition, regarding various systems such as the engine and avionics for the next-generation fighter, Japan decided to continue discussions with the U.S. and the UK and seek possibilities for cooperation to reduce development costs and technical risks.
December 2021	Announced the International Cooperation for the Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft 　→Based on the Direction of International Cooperation for the Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft, Japan continued discussions with Lockheed Martin Corporation on the details of the support and began joint deliberations with the U.S. Air Force and other parties on future networks to ensure interoperability, from August 2021. Furthermore, the defense authorities of Japan and the UK confirmed the launch of a joint engine demonstration project in January 2022. Additionally, the two defense authorities decided to consider the feasibility of cooperation at further subsystem levels, and for this purpose, decided to conduct joint analysis on the degree of commonality.
December 2022	Announced joint development of next-generation fighter aircraft by the leaders of Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
December 2022	Published the Defense Buildup Program 　→“Joint development of the next-generation fighter aircraft with the UK and Italy will be promoted, while ensuring freedom of modification and interoperability with the allied country, so that by the end of FY 2035, when fighter aircraft (F-2) are expected to start retiring, fighter aircraft capable of securing and maintaining air superiority in the future can be delivered. In addition to the fighter aircraft itself, development of systems including unmanned aerial vehicles, etc., will be undertaken with the possibility of international collaboration in sight. ” 　→“Steadily promote joint development of the next-generation fighter aircraft with the UK and Italy, aiming to complete development by the end of FY2035. Research and development will also be promoted for a combat support unmanned aircraft to be collaborating with manned aircraft such as the next-generation fighter aircraft. ” 　→“In conducting research and development of these technologies, Japan-led development will be realized by ensuring freedom of modification for timely and appropriate upgrade in the future and domestic production and technological bases for high readiness, etc. on the premise that the aircraft maintains the capability to effectively counter numerically superior opponents. ”
December 2023	Signed Convention on the Establishment of the “Global Combat Air Programme – GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) 　→It was stipulated that the headquarters of GIGO will be located in the UK. Moreover, at the Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting, along with signing the convention, the Ministers agreed that the first chief executive of GIGO will be from Japan, and the first chief executive officer of the joint business construct will be from Italy.
March 2024	Adopted by the National Security Council and approved by the Cabinet decision on “Transfer of finished products regarding Global Combat Air Programme from Japan to countries other than partner countries ,” and the Revision of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment →The transfer of finished products regarding GCAP from Japan to countries other than partner countries has become potentially permissible.