"Stealth fighter" to request development costs without specifying the amount Ministry of Defense August 21 12:00
Over the stealth fighter of the Air Self-Defense Force F2 fighter, which will be retired in the 2030s, the Ministry of Defense will include the costs related to development without any specific amount specified in the budget request for next year's budget. The policy has been solidified.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has 91 F2 fighters that have been deployed since 2000, but since the retirement began in the 2030s, the government will provide a medium-term defense capability over the next five years for the successor “stealth fighter”. In the maintenance plan, it is decided that “Japan-led development will be started early with a view to international cooperation”.
Regarding this successor, the Ministry of Defense will include the expenses related to development in the form of a “request for matter” that does not specify a specific amount in the budget request for next year's budget, and record the amount by the end of the year's budget formulation. The policy to do was solidified.
The Ministry of Defense is considering the possibility of joint development with the United States and the United Kingdom, but in order to maintain the domestic defense industry, there are issues such as how far to be able to tackle development, and the specific policy is Not yet decided.
For this reason, the budget plan for the next fiscal year will include expenses related to the development of the main parts of the aircraft and systems that Japan will independently develop.