MoD to Announce Very New Style of Contracting for Japan's Next Fighter Jet Development

Japan's Next Fighter Jet to Develop with Sole Contractor from Japan

----July 28, 2020----

The Nikkei Shimbun web edition reported today the Defense Ministry of Japan has chosen contracting with a sole company in Japan for the development of the next fighter jets for its  air self-defense force to be deployed from 2035. The Defense Ministry will announce this style of contracting very soon, the Nikkei reports.

This contractor will coordinate the development and production with participating other firms from Japan and U.S. It is intended, Nikkei assumes, to enhance development and production capabilities of Japanese firms.

The next fighter, called F-3, will replace current Mitsubishi F-2 fighters, a Japan-U.S.joint work based on F-16, that will start retiring from 2035.  With appropriation of the development expenses in Japan's fiscal 2021 budget and complete prototype examples in fiscal 2024.

Estimated production size of the fighter jets is said to be ninety with approx. JPY 5 trillion budget for the entire processes including procurement.

Under the new style of fighter jet development, Japanese corporations will undergo the entire processes of designing, development and production of its battle system as well as main parts. It is highly expected U.S. corporations will join in the development with supervision of the sole contractor from Japan.

For this sole contractor, many expect Mitsubishi Heavy Industry while Kawasaki Heavy Industry, Subaru, and IHI from Japan and Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman are expected to join as contractors.

JASDF operates F-35 joint strike fighters assembled in U.S. but its key technologies are non-disclosed and Japan is not allow any modification. Its battle system should be upgraded for convenience of U.S. side. Japanese officials have voiced dissatisfaction with lower degree of freedom in operation and little chance to accumulate technologies in Japan's defense industry.

The selection of this style of contracting is reflecting strong wishes of Japan's defense industrial sector.

Lockheed Martin once proposed a hybrid model of F-22 and F-35 for Japan's next fighter jets but this was never taken up as Japan has insisted to develop the new fighter with its own initiative. 

Some speculates U.S. will demand Japan to make the development with more American involvement after November U.S. presidential election, Nikkei reports.

IHI and Boeing Team Up for New Fuel Cell System for Aviation

IHI announced the company will collaborate with Boeing for development of fuel cell system for aircraft. The working principle of the system is to use power generated by jet engines more effectively so that it will lead to reduction of fuel carried by aircraft. Its development is scheduled to complete by 2011 and probing experiment will start from 2013 on board aircraft.

IHI will develop the system from power-recycle fuel cells used for galley on board.  IHI will work on development of the fuel cell and its coordination with jet engines while Boeing will work on harmonization of the system with power supply on board.

If successful, it is hoped to curtail fuel consumption of commercial aircraft service by around 1%.