When it comes to world superpowers, military and intelligence assets are worth more than gold. To date, only three nations have designed and test flown a version of a stealth fighter jet. The United States, Russia, and China were considered the world powers that dominate the skies when it came to military strength. Japan is now the fourth nation to test their own stealth jet. This comes just two years before the deadline that Tokyo set for itself to either adopt a US jet or continue with their own native designed jet. Though their jet, the X2, is considered a success, experts say that using their native designed jet will be far more expensive than adopting a western design.

Japan wants to reinvigorate their withering aerospace industry. At the beginning of the 1900s, Japan set the standard with their Zero fighter which had superior maneuverability and was considered top dog in an aerial dogfight. Since the end of WWII their military technology has lagged behind the rest of the world. Until now, Japan has been buying fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II jet planes from the US but Japan wants to change that.

Tensions in the eastern hemisphere between Japan and China are growing higher and higher. China frequently sends ships and fighter jets very close to Japan. Both South Korea and Japan are frantically working on fifth generation fighter jets to keep up with not only the new world standard but also to combat the potential threat in China. Back in 2014, an arms export ban on Japan eased which means that Japan wants to develop superior military technology for others to buy.