Japan plans to design a new missile for next-generation fighter jets it is developing with Britain and Italy, aiming to equip them with the projectile when they are first deployed in the Asian nation in 2035, a source familiar with the matter said Monday.
A study involving Japan and Britain on what would be appropriate for new fighter jets to be used by the Air Self-Defense Force showed that a home-grown air-to-air missile would initially ensure better performance at a lower cost than the European-developed air-to-air Meteor missile, according to the source.
In the future, however, Japan may consider equipping its new fighters with missiles that are used for British and Italian warplanes to improve their capabilities, the source said.