The United States will provide technological support for Japan’s next-generation fighter jet (F-X) project.

Under the F-X program, Lockheed Martin agreed on technology support for the aircraft, which Japan plans to develop with local resources and will be the 6th generation. For the F-X, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will be responsible for designing and system integration, Subaru will develop the landing crafts, Mitsubishi Electric will develop the mission system, Toshiba and Fujitsu will develop the radar.

The new aircraft, expected to replace existing F-2s, is planned to be deployed in 2035. For Japan, which will produce about 90 F-Xs, the cost of the new platforms is thought to be over $48 billion.

The initial planning costs will be included in the draft fiscal budget for 2021, which will be approved by the Japanese Government later this month.