America’s F-35 stealth fighter is a 5th generation fighter. The F-35, which North Korea’s Kim Jong-un fears the most, is not easily detected by radar, so it can bomb Pyongyang without a sound. Radar technology played a major role in the Battle of Midway, where Japan was defeated by the United States during the Pacific War. The United States deployed radar before Japan and knew in advance that Japanese fighters were approaching, while Japan suffered a crushing defeat because it was unaware of the approach of American fighters.
But now, stealth technology that cannot be detected by radar has developed and is causing fear in North Korea. The American F-117A stealth fighter-bomber, which appeared in the Gulf War between the United States and Iraq in the 1990s, was not detected by radar waves and destroyed major Iraqi facilities at the first opportunity. The reason the radar was disabled was because the Japanese special paint applied to the fighter-bombers absorbed Iraqi radar waves. However, today in 2024, the next fighter being jointly developed by Japan, the UK, and Italy is a 6th generation fighter with stronger stealth performance than the F-35, and Japan was selected as the representative of the three countries and began development. The goal is to deploy in Japan in 2035.
Even now, the F-35 fighter decides to attack by judging the information displayed on the control screen, but the attack power of Japan’s 6th generation fighter is doubled in that it engages in aerial combat with unmanned aerial vehicles using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Japan’s Defense Equipment Agency’s Aviation Equipment Research Institute is rushing to develop AI-applied unmanned aerial vehicles to be used in conjunction with 6th generation fighter jets. Starting in 2022, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is leading the research on AI technology to be applied to unmanned aerial vehicles, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries is also making all-out efforts to improve the performance of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Japan invested 4.5 trillion won in the development of the next fighter jet based on the 2025 budget. The goal is to produce fighter jets that are as good as those in the United States. Modern air combat is changing to a strategy of accurately winning by detecting opposing fighters from a distance and analyzing massive data to determine which attack method to choose using AI technology. The impression that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces were weak is now a thing of the past. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s party policy is that Japan should increase its military power to a level comparable to that of the United States and Europe.
In order to make the Self-Defense Forces an official military force of Japan, Article 9 of the current Peace Constitution must be revised. Article 9 of the Peace Constitution clearly states that the country must never have military power and must not intervene in international disputes. The Peace Constitution was stipulated in the Constitution by General Douglas MacArthur, who was the commander of the occupation forces after Japan’s defeat in World War II, to prohibit Japan from possessing any military power, but history is changing over the past 70 years.
Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun conducted an opinion poll targeting House of Representatives candidates from the Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Restoration Council asking what they thought about amending the Constitution to give constitutional status to the Self-Defense Forces, and the results showed that over 90% of politicians were in favor.
Developing Japan’s next fighter, the 6th generation fighter, is not simply about developing a single fighter jet, but should be seen as a symbol of Japan’s attempt to rewrite the history of Japan’s military power, which had been quiet since World War II. Japan is trying to transform into a military power, and Russia is threatening South Korea by forming a military alliance with North Korea. At a time when China is also trying to confront the United States by increasing the number of nuclear weapons, the Republic of Korea must pool its national power to maintain the economic development and peace it has built and to rise to the ranks of great powers.
**How does Japan’s development of a 6th generation fighter with superior stealth capabilities and AI integration potentially alter the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region, and what implications does this have for regional security alliances and strategic calculations?**
## World Today News: Japan’s 6th Generation Fighter – Interview
**Host:** Welcome to World Today News. Today, we’re delving into Japan’s ambitious development of a 6th generation fighter jet. We’re joined by two esteemed guests: Dr. Anya Petrov, a leading expert on Asia-Pacific security affairs from the Institute for International Studies, and Mr. Tae-Jun Kim, a former South Korean Air Force pilot and commentator on military technology.
**Dr. Petrov, let’s start with you. The article mentions Japan’s 6th generation fighter boasting stronger stealth capabilities than the F-35. How significant is this leap forward in technology, and what implications could it have for regional security dynamics?**
**Dr. Petrov:**
**(Discussion about technological advancements, stealth capabilities, and their impact on regional power balance. Consider including:**
* Comparison with existing fighter jets like the F-35
* Potential impact on military doctrines and strategies in the region
* How other countries might respond to this development)
**Mr. Kim, the article asserts that Japan’s new fighter will leverage AI for unmanned aerial vehicle combat. What are your thoughts on the role of AI in future air warfare, and how comfortable are you with the prospect of autonomous weapons systems?**
**Mr. Kim:**
**(Discussion on the ethical and practical implications of AI in warfare:
* Potential benefits and risks of AI-controlled weaponry
* The future of pilot roles in air combat
* International regulations governing autonomous weapons development)
**Dr. Petrov, Japan’s military development is closely tied to the debate surrounding Article 9 of their Peace Constitution. Can you elaborate on the historical context of Article 9 and how public opinion on its revision has evolved?**
**Dr. Petrov:**
**(Discussion about the history of Article 9, changing attitudes towards it, and the political climate surrounding its revision:
* Origins of Article 9 and its purpose in postwar Japan
* Pros and cons of amending Article 9
* Public opinion polls and political party stances)
**Mr. Kim, from a South Korean perspective, what are the implications of Japan’s increasing military assertiveness? How does this impact South Korea’s security calculations, especially in light of North Korea’s nuclear threats and China’s growing influence?**
**Mr. Kim:**
**(Discussion of South Korea’s strategic considerations in the face of regional power dynamics:
* South Korea’s responses to Japan’s military modernization
* Potential for increased regional tension and cooperation
* Impact on South Korea’s alliance with the United States)
**Host:** This has been a fascinating discussion. Clearly, Japan’s development of a 6th generation fighter is a consequential event with ripple effects throughout the region. Thank you both, Dr. Petrov and Mr. Kim, for sharing your valuable insights.
**(Closing remarks, summarizing key points and inviting viewers to share their thoughts.)**
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