Japan and the United States are in discussions to co-develop a new trainer aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), according to Mainichi News. This would mark the first collaborative effort between the two nations for a trainer platform.
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Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The new aircraft is intended to succeed the T-4, a subsonic jet trainer that has been in service since 1988. Concerns regarding the T-4’s suitability for training pilots on advanced aircraft like the F-35 and the upcoming international next-generation fighter jet (NGF) have spurred the development push. The NGF, a joint project between Japan, Britain, and Italy, is expected to enter service in 2035.
The co-development program is anticipated to yield several benefits. Sharing development and production costs is a major advantage, particularly as the complexity of modern fighters necessitates more advanced trainers. Economies of scale achieved through joint operation by both air forces could further reduce costs and stabilize supply chains for parts.
Beyond economic considerations, the program is seen as a way to bolster interoperability between the JASDF and the US Air Force. By training on a common platform from the outset, pilots from both nations could achieve a higher degree of seamless cooperation during joint operations. This interoperability is increasingly crucial given the evolving nature of air combat, which is becoming more reliant on advanced technologies like AI and complex communication networks.
While the specific details of the co-developed trainer remain under discussion, the Boeing-Saab T-7 Red Hawk is emerging as a strong candidate. This supersonic jet trainer, recently selected by the U.S. Air Force as its next-generation trainer to replace the Northrop T-38C, boasts advanced features well-suited for preparing pilots for modern combat aircraft.
The T-7’s capabilities include a digital design that facilitates integration of future training technologies, a high-performance General Electric turbofan engine for realistic flight characteristics, and a tandem instructor-student seating configuration for optimal pilot instruction. Additionally, the aircraft’s existing U.S. Air Force production line could be leveraged to streamline joint production with Japan.
While the flight test program for the T-7 faces delays, the U.S. Air Force is expected to start buying seven aircraft in fiscal 2025 with the plan to eventually procure 346 aircraft.
The agreement, if reached, is expected to be formalized during the upcoming summit between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden scheduled for April 10th in Washington D.C. This development comes on the heels of a December 2022 agreement for joint US-Japan research on AI for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) intended to support the NGF program. These collaborations highlight a growing emphasis on technological cooperation between the two allies in the face of a shifting geopolitical landscape.
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