Japan and India team up to create a next-gen fighter jet to rival China’s J-36

Japan has invited India to participate in a significant international initiative aimed at developing a next-generation fighter jet, a decision that could alter military dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. This proposal, disclosed by a Japanese government official on April 30, 2025, aims to integrate India into the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint project spearheaded by Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy to create a sixth-generation combat aircraft by 2035.

The initiative intends to share the substantial financial responsibilities while enhancing security collaboration with India, a pivotal player in South Asia. This outreach highlights Japan’s strategic efforts to counter China’s expanding influence, although India’s intricate relationships with Russia and ongoing tensions with Pakistan raise concerns about the feasibility of this partnership.

Launched formally in December 2022, the GCAP is an ambitious project designed to develop a state-of-the-art fighter jet to replace aging models such as Japan’s Mitsubishi F-2, the UK’s Eurofighter Typhoon, and Italy’s Eurofighter fleet. The program brings together leading defense manufacturers—Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, BAE Systems, and Leonardo—in a mission to create an aircraft equipped with advanced stealth, artificial intelligence, and networked warfare capabilities.

With projected costs surpassing $40 billion by 2035, the financial requirements of the project have led the three nations to consider broadening their collaboration. Japan’s outreach to India, initially discussed during a government delegation’s visit to New Delhi in February 2025, reflects both economic and strategic motivations, as Tokyo aims to strengthen its relationship with a country vital to regional stability.

India’s role in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is crucial due to its expanding aerospace capabilities and strategic location. The nation has successfully developed the HAL Tejas, a lightweight multirole fighter crafted by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This aircraft, equipped with a General Electric F404 engine, can reach speeds of Mach 1.6, has a combat range of around 340 miles, and can carry a payload of 8,800 pounds, which includes air-to-air missiles such as the Astra and precision-guided munitions. Its adaptability has established it as a key asset for the Indian Air Force, with over 40 units currently operational and plans for an upgraded Mk2 variant.

Additionally, India has gained experience in advanced fighter programs through its partnership with Russia on the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), which is based on the Sukhoi Su-57. The Su-57 is a stealth fighter capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2 and has a range of 2,200 miles, featuring thrust-vectoring engines and sophisticated avionics.

Although India exited the FGFA project in 2018 due to issues related to technology transfer and costs, its participation highlighted New Delhi’s aspirations to excel in high-tech aviation. The GCAP fighter, which is still in the conceptual design stage, aims to establish new standards in military aviation.

In contrast to fifth-generation jets like the U.S. F-35 Lightning II, which costs approximately $110 million and is designed for multirole operations, the GCAP aircraft is intended to be a highly specialized platform focused on air superiority in contested environments. It is expected to incorporate a low-observable airframe to reduce radar visibility, advanced sensor fusion for real-time situational awareness, and a modular design to facilitate future enhancements.

The aircraft is anticipated to carry double the internal payload of the F-35A, potentially up to 10,000 pounds, including cutting-edge air-to-air missiles and directed-energy weapons.

The integration of artificial intelligence will facilitate autonomous decision-making and coordination with unmanned drones, referred to as Collaborative Combat Aircraft, thereby improving effectiveness in networked warfare. The propulsion system for these aircraft, currently being developed by Rolls-Royce, IHI Corporation, and Avio Aero, aims to achieve exceptional speed and efficiency, targeting a cruising speed that exceeds Mach 1.5.

In contrast, China’s J-20, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.5 but does not possess the networked capabilities and AI integration that GCAP plans to implement. Japan’s engagement with India occurs amid increasing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, which has become a central area of interest for global powers. China’s growing military presence in the South China Sea and along the Line of Actual Control with India has raised alarms among neighboring countries.

As a significant ally of the U.S. and a participant in the Quad security dialogue with the United States, Australia, and India, Japan considers India a vital partner in countering China’s influence. In recent years, the two nations have strengthened their defense collaboration through joint military exercises, such as the Dharma Guardian army drill and the Malabar naval exercise, which also involves the U.S. and Australia.

In 2024, Japan and India conducted their inaugural joint fighter jet exercise, featuring Indian Su-30MKI jets and Japanese F-15s, indicating a growing synergy in air combat capabilities. India’s involvement in GCAP could expedite its aerospace aspirations, granting access to Western technologies and decreasing its reliance on Russian arms, which currently constitute nearly 60% of its defense imports.

The Indian Air Force operates more than 250 Su-30MKI fighters, designed in Russia, and has obtained S-400 air defense systems from Moscow, showcasing the strong connections established during the Cold War. Nevertheless, New Delhi is actively working to broaden its defense collaborations by acquiring Rafale jets from France and investigating U.S. options such as the F-21, a proposed variant of the F-16. Participation in GCAP could align with India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, which emphasizes domestic production and technology transfer, potentially allowing for local manufacturing of the GCAP fighter or its components.

Despite the strategic advantages, India’s potential participation faces considerable challenges. Japan has raised concerns regarding the security of sensitive GCAP technologies due to India’s military relations with Russia. A senior Japanese defense official, in remarks to the Indian media outlet IDRW, cautioned that technologies related to stealth, propulsion, and avionics might inadvertently be transferred to Moscow, referencing India’s use of Russian platforms like the Su-30MKI. These worries reflect Japan’s previous concerns about Saudi Arabia’s interest in joining GCAP, illustrating Tokyo’s careful stance on the program’s expansion. In a statement from January 2025, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni endorsed Saudi Arabia’s inclusion, suggesting that additional partners could help lower costs, yet Japan’s hesitations highlight the fragile trust required in multinational defense initiatives.

India’s regional situation adds further complexity to the decision-making process. The nation is embroiled in a long-standing territorial conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir, characterized by frequent military confrontations along the Line of Control. Pakistan operates a fleet of F-16s supplied by the U.S. and Chinese-designed JF-17 Thunder jets, the latter being a lightweight multirole fighter capable of reaching speeds of Mach 1.6 and possessing a combat radius of 840 miles.

India’s potential decision to join GCAP may be viewed as a threat by Islamabad, which could heighten tensions or lead Pakistan to strengthen its defense relations with China, currently developing the J-36, a tailless sixth-generation fighter concept introduced in April 2025. China’s advancing aerospace capabilities, including the J-20 and the upcoming J-36, pressure India to enhance its air force to sustain regional balance.

However, the GCAP faces its own set of challenges. In April 2025, Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto accused the UK of not sharing essential technologies, raising doubts about the program’s collaborative nature. Crosetto stated to Reuters, ‘Britain is not fully sharing technologies with Italy and Japan,’ calling on London to remove ‘barriers of selfishness.’ In response, the British Ministry of Defence highlighted GCAP as a model of international cooperation, asserting, ‘The technologies we are developing and the capabilities we are building together are at the forefront of science and engineering.’

Despite these challenges, the initiative has made strides, including the formation of the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) to oversee development and a joint venture involving BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. to coordinate industrial efforts.

Historically, multinational fighter jet programs have encountered considerable hurdles. The Eurofighter Typhoon, created by the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain, faced delays and budget overruns but ultimately resulted in a capable fourth-generation jet with a maximum speed of Mach 2 and a combat range of 1,150 miles. The F-35 program, spearheaded by the U.S. with nine partner countries, has produced over 1,000 aircraft but has been criticized for its $428 billion lifecycle cost and technical challenges.

GCAP’s focus on equal partnership and technological sovereignty—permitting each nation to independently modify the aircraft—seeks to circumvent the issues experienced in previous projects like the F-35, where partners had limited control.

India’s aerospace goals reach beyond the GCAP initiative. During Aero India 2025, which took place in Bengaluru from February 10 to 14, India presented a full-scale model of its homegrown Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency. The AMCA, expected to weigh 25 tons and achieve a maximum speed of Mach 2.15, aims to compete with aircraft such as the F-35 and J-20, incorporating AI technologies and capabilities for manned-unmanned collaboration.

The program is anticipated to deliver a prototype by 2028, showcasing India’s commitment to self-sufficiency in defense production. However, the projected timeline and estimated cost of $15 billion for the AMCA may challenge India’s resources, making the GCAP a viable alternative for quicker access to advanced technologies. The broader ramifications of India’s potential participation in GCAP also impact the security framework of the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad has become a key element in efforts to counter China’s assertiveness, with joint military exercises and intelligence-sharing improving interoperability among its members.

A successful collaboration within GCAP could enhance the military unity of the Quad, allowing India to deploy a fighter that aligns with Japanese and Western systems. On the other hand, this could provoke reactions from China and Russia, possibly accelerating their own sixth-generation aircraft initiatives or increasing their support for Pakistan. The global defense landscape may also be influenced, as GCAP’s forecast of 350 aircraft orders by 2035 presents export opportunities for countries like Vietnam and the Philippines, which are engaged in maritime disputes with China.

From the perspective of the U.S., India’s partnership with GCAP could bolster Washington’s strategy of building alliances to counter China, although it might complicate India’s involvement in U.S.-led initiatives such as the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD).

The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, featuring the F-47 stealth fighter, is projected to cost $5.72 billion by 2029 and aims to incorporate autonomous drones similar to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The United States has shown interest in GCAP, with a representative from the Trump administration promoting American participation in February 2025; however, Japan’s commitment to technological independence may restrict U.S. influence.

The invitation extended to India signifies a crucial development in the shifting security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region. Japan’s engagement indicates an acknowledgment of India’s increasing military and economic power, alongside the necessity for collaborative efforts to tackle regional issues.

Nevertheless, the journey ahead is complicated by technological security challenges and geopolitical tensions. India’s choice will depend on its capacity to navigate domestic needs, regional conflicts, and international aspirations. As GCAP progresses towards full-scale development in 2025, with a prototype anticipated by 2027, global attention will be focused on whether India will seize this chance to influence the future of aerial warfare.

The results could reshape alliances and alter the power dynamics for years to come, but will India’s strategic decisions align with Japan’s objectives, or will prudence take precedence in New Delhi?