Article | Xiaoyin
Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy will jointly develop the latest generation of fighter jets. This is a piece of news released by Japan News Agency on December 9. *** The same news agency said that for Japan, this is a follow-up model of its self-developed F-2 fighter jet, which will be put into use around 2035.
Renderings of next-generation fighter jets jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy: Japanese Ministry of Defense
In Xiaoyin’s view, this news is worth pondering. After all, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy have been quite unsuccessful in the research and development of fourth-generation aircraft. What do you want to do this time? Could it be——
Joining forces and working alone?
01
What is meant by "joining forces and working alone"? This is of course understood from two levels.
1. "Unite" refers to the three countries of Japan, Britain and Italy uniting. Originally, at least Japan and the United Kingdom had their own fourth-generation fighter development plans. For example, Japan's "Shin" fighter jet has completed its first flight, but was eventually dismounted. The United Kingdom has also come up with plans for fourth-generation aircraft of this kind. But it also failed in the end. Currently, there are only a few American-made standard fourth-generation aircraft in the world—the American F-22 and F-35, the Chinese J-20, the Russian Su-57, and perhaps the Chinese J-31. This time, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy have joined forces, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, British aerospace and defense giant BAE Systems, etc. are responsible for developing new aircraft models. Can the world give birth to a new American-made fourth-generation aircraft?
Japan's "Shin" fighter jet completed its first flight, but was eventually dismantled
2. Going it alone means that these countries did not listen to the call of the United States and found another way to launch the fourth-generation aircraft project. Ordinarily, the United Kingdom and Italy are both members of NATO, especially the United Kingdom. In Xiaoyin's view, even within NATO, they are entities that have a special relationship with the United States. At least, both countries are Anglo-Saxon countries and members of the "Five Eyes Alliance", which means they have special channels for sharing intelligence. Moreover, the carrier-based aircraft currently on the British aircraft carrier are also American-made F-35Bs. Some of them were purchased by the United Kingdom from the United States, and some were sent by the US military to help the United Kingdom achieve aircraft carrier combat capabilities. With such an ironclad relationship, why does the UK still want to get together with Japan and Italy?
F-35B fighter jets on the British aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth"
If further analysis is made - the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan are all members of the Western Group of Seven, as is the United States G7 member countries. Although the G7 is not a military group, everyone is in a small circle. Xiaoyin even said that not only the United Kingdom has F-35 fighters, but Italy and Japan are also users of F-35 fighters.
The United States also helped Japan convert its Izumo-class helicopter destroyer into a platform that can take off and land F-35B, which is equivalent to giving Japan an aircraft carrier again.
U.S. F-35B fighter jets taking off and landing on the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer "Izumo"
Under such circumstances, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy have to unite If we go it alone, does that mean we don’t trust the United States? Xiaoyin feels that it shouldn't be the case, at least it's not entirely the case.
02
Looking back at history, Britain, Italy and Japan were all once powerful nations in the sea and air. Especially the UK and Japan.
The British aircraft carrier "Furious"
In June 1917, the British modified a cruiser and called it the "Furious" aircraft carrier. This large ship, which can carry up to 20 aircraft, has become the first true aircraft carrier in human history. After that, the British converted a cruise ship "Kakis" into an aircraft carrier, called the "Hundred-Eyed Giant".
As for Japan, it can be seen from the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor that it truly uses aircraft carriers in decisive battles in the ocean. Although Japan ultimately lost to the United States in the Pacific War, some of its tactics are still worth reviewing today.
As for the famous fighter aircraft developed by Britain, Japan and Italy in various eras, I will not go into details here.
But when fourth-generation fighters like the American F-22 emerged, it was obvious that these countries felt great pressure.
On December 7, at the Pearl Harbor memorial ceremony in Hawaii, the United States, F-22s flew out of the memorial formation to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Later facts also proved that the real comparison Apart from the United States, the only country that has successfully developed a fourth-generation aircraft is China. Russia's Su-57 was even lagging behind - mainly in avionics and stealth technology, and Russia seemed to have been catching up for a while. In the development process of the J-20, China has also made up for its own shortcomings in aviation and engine, and also borrowed some Russian technologies.
The reason why the United States, China and Russia finally succeeded in the fourth-generation stealth fighter aircraft is actually related to the overall national strength and the size of the army, especially the navy and air force.
After all, military products are also products. If there is not a large enough market demand, it will be difficult for military industry companies to produce large-scale products. In this way, the cost will be difficult to spread.
Even the F-35 made in the United States has found many allies, including the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, to invest in R&D and production in order to spread the cost.
03
Xiaoyin even feels that the cooperation among Britain, Italy, and Japan in developing new fighter aircraft is not necessarily to equip the troops to some extent. If they simply want to equip their troops, they only need to buy F-35.
To a large extent, they are doing it for technical reserves.
Today, these three countries can serve as small followers of the United States in the military. For example, there is close cooperation between Britain and the United States. For example, Britain, Italy, and the United States are NATO allies. For example, Japan is a "servant" of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region - the United States is responsible for offense and defense, and Japan is exclusively responsible for defense. But what about the future? Will it be impossible for Britain, Italy, and Japan to fight the United States in the future? Or is the United States stuck when fighting other opponents?
The US-Japan "Sharp Sword" annual military exercise just concluded
In fact, France and Germany are also jointly developing new fighter aircraft like Britain, Italy and Japan.
However, the United States seems to have a very clear attitude towards this kind of joint research and development - it does not support it.
The Japanese themselves know very well how Japan’s "Mind" fighter jets became obsolete - there is no shortage of Americans behind the scenes to do all kinds of mischief. Now, can we really accomplish this by bringing together the United Kingdom and Italy? There are still more than ten years left before 2035. In the next few years, will the United States or other countries take the lead in developing newer and better aircraft? Obviously, the possibility is not small. Maybe one day, the joint research and development by these three countries will come to an end
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