page_title: Defense industry of Japan
section_title: FS-X program
hierarchical_section_title: Defense industry of Japan / Challenges and potentials / Production / FS-X program
caption_attribution_description: Japan Self-Defence Force, Mitsubishi F-2 Fighter at Chitose Base Airshow in 2006. Special painting for the 50th anniversary of 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron.
context_page_description: The Japanese defense industry is the major supplier of the nation's own Self-Defense Forces. Production costs are high, due to several factors: the successful Japanese economy of the postwar period allowed for generous defense spending; few products are exported, keeping production numbers low; research and development is done independently where possible, securing national self-sustainability; public investment in Japan tends to be uneconomic, aimed largely at gaining local voter support.
context_section_description: The FS-X program highlighted some of the struggles the Japanese defense industry faced.
  The program originally aimed for the development of an indigenous fighter jet to succeed the Mitsubishi F-1. Japanese defense contractors sought for domestic development to develop skills in manufacturing future aircraft and to preserve Japan's aviation industry. However, under U.S. pressure, the program switched to a jointly developed fighter based on the F-16.
  The program drew criticism in Japan due to the government bowing to U.S. pressure. Japanese defense contractors and lawmakers were irate that the U.S. would gain access to advance Japanese technology through the deal and local industries would not be able to profit as much compared to domestically developing the aircraft. There was also the belief that a domestically designed fighter would be superior to a modified F-16 design.
  Further criticism was drawn from delays in the F-2's production, high production cost (about four times more expensive than an Block 50/52 F-16), and reduction of units from 141 aircraft to 94.
caption: Mitsubishi F-2
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