Japan's next-generation fighter jet developer establishes design base with 1,000 employees in Japan

The Nippon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on the 11th that Edgewing, a trilateral defense industry joint venture responsible for the development of next-generation fighter jets between Japan, the UK, and Italy, plans to establish a design and development base in Japan early next year.

Edgewing CEO Marco Jopp recently announced to Nikkei that he plans to open a design and development base in Aichi Prefecture, Japan early next year and hire 1,000 people thereafter.

CEO Joff added that approximately half of the workforce at the Aichi Prefecture base will be comprised of local Japanese personnel.

Edgewing is a company responsible for the actual design and development of the next-generation fighter joint development project between three countries, Japan, the UK, and Italy. Major defense companies from the three countries, including Japan Aircraft Industry Promotion Corporation (JAIEC), BAE Systems (UK), and Leonardo (Italy), each own a one-third stake.

Edgewing will establish global design and development bases in three countries. On the 9th, a base was opened in Turin, Italy, and a similar facility is planned to be built in Wharton, England.

CEO Joff said that each base will specialize in different subsystems (detailed systems) for efficiency.

CEO Joff said that engineering-related experts such as structural and system design and engine parts design will work at the Turin base, and that subsystem experts such as avionics will be deployed in the future.

The next-generation fighter aircraft being developed by the three countries is targeted for field deployment and operation in 2035.

The possibility of Germany's participation has also emerged, with the UK proposing Germany to join this project.

Meanwhile, Thales, a French defense and aerospace company that has been supplying defense equipment to the Self-Defense Forces, decided to establish a base in Japan to support the maintenance and operation of defense equipment.

The newly established maintenance base is expected to confirm the use of defense equipment and diagnose defects.

Nikkei reported that this is the first time that a foreign defense company has established a base dedicated to maintenance and repair of defense equipment in Japan. It is reported that the selection of a candidate site for establishing a base is currently in progress.

In addition, Thales plans to transfer technology to its partner, Japan Steel Works (JSW), to produce mortars for the Ground Self-Defense Force in Japan starting next year.

As the Japanese government revised the three principles for the transfer of defense equipment and its operating guidelines in April, significantly easing export restrictions on finished defense equipment, including lethal weapons, there is a possibility that Japan will become a base for Thales to export finished defense equipment to Asia.

Nikkei explained that Thales is establishing a new base in Japan because the Japanese government is rushing to strengthen its ability to sustain combat in preparation for emergencies.

The ability to sustain combat is being addressed as a major issue in the revision of the three major security documents scheduled to be completed within the year, and a policy to establish a system to stably procure defense equipment within Japan is expected to be included.