Japan clarified its requirements for the aircraft to replace the Air Self-Defense Forces’ F-2 fighter jets. The new aircraft is expected to be able to carry and launch drones to detect enemy planes from a long distance and also to share radar information with the drones. Japanese Defence Ministry also wants the successors to have stealth features, have the capacity to internally carry eight air-to-air missiles and to reach a maximum speed of Mach 2. 

The Ministry has examined three options regarding the method of developing an F-2 successor; domestic development, joint development with other countries, or improving existing foreign-made fighter jets but yet to decide on one.