The Japanese government has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile with the United Kingdom in fiscal year 2022. (Japanese Ministry of Defence)

As part of its fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget, the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) with the United Kingdom.

Specifically, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has secured JPY350 million (USD3 million) to fund preparation costs related to air-launch tests of a prototype of the JNAAM for FY 2022, starting in April, an official at the MoD's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) confirmed to Janes on 21 February.

The official said the joint programme transitioned to a prototype stage in FY 2018 and was expected to finish trial production of the prototype during FY 2022.

However, scheduling of the joint programme with the UK will be amended due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the official said. Following the trial production of the prototype, the two countries will evaluate the performance of the missile and then decide whether to put the weapon into mass production.

The Japanese government has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile with the United Kingdom in fiscal year 2022. (Japanese Ministry of Defence)

As part of its fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget, the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) with the United Kingdom.

Specifically, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has secured JPY350 million (USD3 million) to fund preparation costs related to air-launch tests of a prototype of the JNAAM for FY 2022, starting in April, an official at the MoD's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) confirmed to Janes on 21 February.

The official said the joint programme transitioned to a prototype stage in FY 2018 and was expected to finish trial production of the prototype during FY 2022.

However, scheduling of the joint programme with the UK will be amended due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the official said. Following the trial production of the prototype, the two countries will evaluate the performance of the missile and then decide whether to put the weapon into mass production.

The Japanese government has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile with the United Kingdom in fiscal year 2022. (Japanese Ministry of Defence)

As part of its fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget, the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) with the United Kingdom.

Specifically, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has secured JPY350 million (USD3 million) to fund preparation costs related to air-launch tests of a prototype of the JNAAM for FY 2022, starting in April, an official at the MoD's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) confirmed to Janes on 21 February.

The official said the joint programme transitioned to a prototype stage in FY 2018 and was expected to finish trial production of the prototype during FY 2022.

However, scheduling of the joint programme with the UK will be amended due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the official said. Following the trial production of the prototype, the two countries will evaluate the performance of the missile and then decide whether to put the weapon into mass production.

The Japanese government has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile with the United Kingdom in fiscal year 2022. (Japanese Ministry of Defence)

As part of its fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget, the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) with the United Kingdom.

Specifically, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has secured JPY350 million (USD3 million) to fund preparation costs related to air-launch tests of a prototype of the JNAAM for FY 2022, starting in April, an official at the MoD's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) confirmed to Janes on 21 February.

The official said the joint programme transitioned to a prototype stage in FY 2018 and was expected to finish trial production of the prototype during FY 2022.

However, scheduling of the joint programme with the UK will be amended due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the official said. Following the trial production of the prototype, the two countries will evaluate the performance of the missile and then decide whether to put the weapon into mass production.

The Japanese government has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile with the United Kingdom in fiscal year 2022. (Japanese Ministry of Defence)

As part of its fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget, the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) with the United Kingdom.

Specifically, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has secured JPY350 million (USD3 million) to fund preparation costs related to air-launch tests of a prototype of the JNAAM for FY 2022, starting in April, an official at the MoD's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) confirmed to Janes on 21 February.

The official said the joint programme transitioned to a prototype stage in FY 2018 and was expected to finish trial production of the prototype during FY 2022.

However, scheduling of the joint programme with the UK will be amended due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the official said. Following the trial production of the prototype, the two countries will evaluate the performance of the missile and then decide whether to put the weapon into mass production.

The Japanese government has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile with the United Kingdom in fiscal year 2022. (Japanese Ministry of Defence)

As part of its fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget, the cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has approved plans to proceed with the co-development of a Joint New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) with the United Kingdom.

Specifically, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has secured JPY350 million (USD3 million) to fund preparation costs related to air-launch tests of a prototype of the JNAAM for FY 2022, starting in April, an official at the MoD's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) confirmed to Janes on 21 February.

The official said the joint programme transitioned to a prototype stage in FY 2018 and was expected to finish trial production of the prototype during FY 2022.

However, scheduling of the joint programme with the UK will be amended due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the official said. Following the trial production of the prototype, the two countries will evaluate the performance of the missile and then decide whether to put the weapon into mass production.