Nikkei wrote that the Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that it had begun inviting foreign companies to participate in the development of Japan’s next-generation fighter jet to be deployed in 2035 with the expectation that foreign firms offering stealth capabilities and other state-of-the-art technologies will take part in the project to be led by a Japanese company. The paper wrote that the application period runs through the end of August and that the ministry will choose partners in early September, expecting that American and British companies will participate. The paper speculated that since the development of a fighter jet entails various technical challenges, including simulating control systems and airframe designs as well as testing stealth capabilities, the ministry is hoping that the experience gained by foreign contractors in past projects will help Japan develop the fighter jet more efficiently.