Japan Is Building Its Own Next-Generation Fighter

TOKYO — Japan’s Ministry of Defense unveiled a timeline on July 7 for the development of an indigenous next-generation fighter jet to counter China’s J-20. The new fighter will replace the Mitsubishi F-2, which is due to be retired in the mid-2030s. Defense News reports the unnamed fighter, tentatively dubbed the F-3, will be optimized for air dominance, stealthy and interoperable with the U.S. military.