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.
Buy Prime Test Series for all Banking, SSC, Insurance & other exams
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 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.
To meet the five-year spending total of 43 trillion yen (USD 316 billion), the government will need an extra 4 trillion yen (USD 30 billion) in defense spending annually. Of that, a quarter will be funded through tax increases.
The revised national security strategy, is predicted to allow the country to have a pre-emptive strike capability and to deploy long-range missiles.
That’s a major and contentious shift away from Japan’s self-defense only defense policy adopted after its World War II defeat in 1945.
Japan and Australia held 2+2 security talks of their foreign and defense ministers in Tokyo to discuss further deepening military ties after Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a new bilateral security agreement in October. It covers military, intelligence and cybersecurity cooperation amid China’s growing assertiveness.
Silk, often hailed as the queen of textiles, holds a significant place in India's cultural…
World Tuna Day, observed annually on May 2nd, is dedicated to raising awareness about the…
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has granted its approval for the appointment of Hitesh…
India, renowned for its rich tapestry of natural landscapes and cultural heritage, is home to…
Paul Auster, the renowned American novelist and filmmaker, has passed away at the age of…
Renowned playback singer Uma Ramanan, who predominantly sang in Tamil, passed away at the age…