Earlier this year, the government took a landmark decision to allow the export of finished defense equipment from international joint development projects to third countries.
Although the approval will for now be limited to the next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed and produced by Japan, Britain and Italy, the decision marks a notable evolution in Japan’s national security strategy, paving the way for the direct transfer of deadly weapons to third countries.
In a related development, parliament in early June approved a treaty to establish an intergovernmental organization to manage the three-party joint development project called the Global Combat Air Program.
