Tokyo, Japan – Japan’s Cabinet has given the green light to a plan that will allow the country to sell future next-generation fighter jets developed in collaboration with the United Kingdom and Italy to other nations, marking a significant shift from its postwar pacifist stance. This decision to permit international arms sales is seen as crucial in cementing Japan’s involvement in the joint fighter jet project, part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s arms industry and enhance its global security role.
The Japanese Cabinet also approved a revision to the country’s arms equipment and technology transfer guidelines, enabling the sale of co-produced lethal weapons to countries beyond the project partners. Historically, Japan has imposed strict restrictions on arms exports due to its pacifist constitution, but escalating regional and global tensions, particularly from neighboring China, have pushed the nation towards deregulation.
Collaborating with Italy and the U.K., Japan is working on developing an advanced fighter jet to replace its outdated fleet of American-designed F-2 fighters and the Eurofighter Typhoons utilized by the U.K. and Italian armed forces. The decision to merge Japan’s F-X initiative with the British-Italian Tempest program, forming the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), aims to deploy the next-generation aircraft by 2035 and equip Japan with cutting-edge capabilities in response to escalating regional tensions with China and Russia.
Under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s leadership, Japan faces criticism for committing to the fighter jet project without ample public explanation or approval for this significant policy shift. In response to concerns, the government plans to limit exports of co-developed lethal weapons to the jet and ensure that sales will not support active conflict zones. Additionally, the revised guideline applies exclusively to the jet, with future export approvals requiring Cabinet authorization.
As the government moves to expand Japan’s defense industry and pursue greater military capabilities, the approval to export arms is viewed as a step towards fostering defense partnerships and boosting national security. While the decision aligns with efforts to enhance Japan’s defense industry beyond its Self-Defense Force, the move is not without its critics, with public opinion divided on the plan.
Japan’s evolving stance on arms exports is expected to feature prominently during Prime Minister Kishida’s upcoming visit to Washington in April, where discussions on military and defense industry partnerships are anticipated. The potential export of fighter jets and other defense equipment could not only reinforce Japan’s defense capabilities but also offer economic benefits by supporting the country’s defense industry.