Japan, in a groundbreaking move departing from its postwar pacifist stance, has received Cabinet approval to sell the next-generation fighter jets it is co-developing with Britain and Italy to foreign nations. This decision marks a significant shift in Japan's historical restrictions on arms exports and is positioned as a strategic move to play a more active role in global security by bolstering the Japanese arms industry and participating in the joint fighter jet project.
The plan to allow international sales of these advanced fighter jets is part of a broader effort by Japan to ramp up its military capabilities, particularly in the face of escalating regional and global tensions. In a departure from its long-held policy of limiting arms exports under its pacifist constitution, Japan is moving towards deregulation to navigate the changing geopolitical landscape, with a specific focus on potential threats from neighboring countries like China.
The joint project, referred to as the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), involves collaboration with Italy and the U.K. to develop an advanced fighter jet to replace Japan's aging fleet of American-designed F-2 fighters. By merging its domestic F-X design initiative with the British-Italian Tempest program, Japan seeks to introduce a cutting-edge aircraft by 2035 to address its defense needs amid escalating regional rivalries with China and Russia. This strategic shift aligns with Japan's aim to gain a technological advantage in the region while maintaining a defensive military posture enshrined in its constitution post-World War II.