The trajectory of sixth-generation fighter programs and regional security alignments, reports indicate that U.S. President Donald Trump has extended an offer to sell the newly unveiled F-47 stealth fighter jet to Japan. If confirmed, this would mark the first formal proposal to export the United States Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform to an allied nation.
The timing and context of the offer are deeply strategic. It follows growing U.S. frustration with Japan’s involvement in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) — a trilateral sixth-generation fighter jet initiative spearheaded by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. In parallel, Japan itself is reportedly questioning the viability of the GCAP’s ambitious 2035 operational deadline.
According to Japan’s Asahi Shimbun, President Trump broached the topic during a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on May 23. Trump, characteristically enthusiastic, reportedly touted the F-47, alongside an upgraded F-35 and the F-22 Raptor, as examples of America’s aerospace superiority.
“We have such great fighter jets. Would you like to take a look? I’ll get the best for Japan,” Trump reportedly said, signaling both his trademark salesmanship and a deeper geopolitical intent.
The pitch, if serious, signals a shift in Washington’s willingness to share advanced military technologies with close allies. During the F-47’s official unveiling in March, Trump alluded to an export version, stating that allies were “calling constantly.” He added that versions offered for export might be “toned down about 10 percent,” a strategic hedge in case future alliances shift.
The F-47 is the crown jewel of the U.S. NGAD initiative, which aims to ensure American air superiority well into the mid-21st century. Designed by Boeing, the F-47 integrates stealth, advanced sensors, drone teaming, and AI-assisted decision-making into a cohesive platform. Details remain classified, but experts believe it represents a quantum leap over the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II.
Exporting the F-47 would mirror the F-35 program, which saw extensive foreign sales that significantly lowered unit costs through economies of scale. Japan is already the largest F-35 customer outside the U.S., with an order book of 147 jets. The inclusion of the F-47 could future-proof Japan’s defense capabilities in a region witnessing rapid militarization, especially by China.
The offer also underscores waning U.S. patience with Japan’s participation in GCAP. Initially launched in 2022, the program merged the UK’s Tempest and Japan’s F-X fighter projects. However, Tokyo appears to be growing disillusioned. Reuters recently reported that Japanese defense planners doubt GCAP will meet its 2035 deployment timeline, suggesting it might slip past 2040.
Insiders cite a lack of urgency from Britain and Italy as a core issue. Last month, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto criticized the UK’s hesitancy to share key technologies, warning it could jeopardize the project’s foundational spirit of equality and cooperation.
“There is no longer anyone who can be considered first and second class,” Crosetto declared. “Selfishness is the worst enemy of nations.”
The United States has long regarded Japan as a cornerstone of its Indo-Pacific strategy. For decades, Japan has purchased U.S.-designed aircraft exclusively, including the F-15J, F-2, and now the F-35. Japan’s decision to join GCAP was seen as a significant pivot toward military-industrial autonomy.
According to Spanish defense outlet Infodefensa, both the U.S. and Israeli governments have expressed concern about GCAP, especially regarding the technological sovereignty it might grant Japan. Washington is reportedly exerting diplomatic and economic pressure to dissuade Tokyo from continuing with the project.
Looming large in all these calculations is China. Beijing is reportedly testing its own sixth-generation fighter platforms, provisionally dubbed J-36 and J-50. While details are scarce, military analysts believe these jets could match or exceed Western capabilities in select areas like electronic warfare and hypersonic missiles.
For Tokyo, the stakes are existential. As the only Asian nation in the GCAP consortium, Japan faces the most immediate threat. A delay in GCAP could leave its skies vulnerable in the 2030s, just as China may be deploying next-gen jets in volume.
Japan’s strategic planners are now caught between long-term independence and near-term security. Abandoning GCAP would mean relinquishing a rare opportunity to shape a next-gen platform and diversify its defense suppliers. But sticking with it could mean missing a critical window to maintain air dominance in East Asia.
The potential acquisition of the F-47 offers a third path — a hybrid approach. Tokyo could continue funding GCAP while hedging with a purchase of F-47s to cover the interim period and beyond. Such a move would satisfy both Washington’s desire for tighter alignment and Tokyo’s need for cutting-edge capability.
If Japan accepts the offer, it could set a precedent for other U.S. allies. Australia, South Korea, and even NATO members could be next in line. This would effectively lock many Western-aligned nations into the F-47 ecosystem, potentially dooming GCAP and similar efforts like the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
Economically, the implications are vast. F-35 unit costs have declined from $150 million in early production to around $80 million, thanks largely to volume. A similar trajectory for the F-47 would make it more accessible globally, cementing Boeing’s dominance and marginalizing European competitors.
As Japan weighs its options, the stakes could not be higher. Accepting the F-47 offer would align Tokyo more closely with Washington but at the cost of defense independence and international collaboration. Declining it could strain U.S.-Japan ties and risk leaving Japan underprepared for the threats of 2040.
In many ways, Japan is at a strategic crossroads. The decisions it makes in the coming months will ripple across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Whether Tokyo chooses loyalty, autonomy, or a blend of both, the age of sixth-generation air power is arriving fast. And the F-47, with all its technological promise and geopolitical baggage, may be the aircraft that defines it.
