From Pioneer to Partner: Why Japan's 6th-Generation Fighter Program Fell a Decade Behind
In 2016, Japan became the first country to fly a technology demonstrator for a sixth-generation fighter, the Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin. Despite this significant early lead, the country's solo F-3 fighter program has since been abandoned. High development costs and complex technological challenges prompted a strategic shift. Japan has now joined the United Kingdom and Italy in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This international collaboration aims to field a new fighter by 2035, effectively putting Japan's original timeline back by at least a decade.
Official Source: https://simpleflying.com/why-country-1st-flew-6th-gen-fighter-now-decade-behind/
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