Japanese engine for Australian frigates and Indian jets: A new era of Indo-Pacific defence ties

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4 days ago

Japan's rise as a major arms exporter could give India the boost it needs to finally develop a homegrown fighter jet engine read more
As Japan makes headway in maritime defence exports, India has been exploring potential aerospace collaborations with Tokyo, particularly in advanced jet engine technology. During a defence ministers' meeting in Delhi in May this year, India proposed a partnership with Japan on aero engine development, in what observers view as an effort to secure a high-performance powerplant for its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
There is a lot of speculation about the chatter focussing on Japan's IHI XF9 engine, developed for its own next-generation fighter aircraft by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) and IHI Corporation.
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The XF9 prototype reportedly delivers 11 tonnes of thrust without afterburner and 15 tonnes with afterburner, with design provisions for scalability up to 20 tons (ATLA, 2018). Its adaptability and modular architecture are seen as advantageous for the AMCA's operational requirements, which include sustained supercruise, agility and low observability.
India's AMCA programme, led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), aims to field a fifth-generation stealth fighter capable of competing with regional rivals such as China's J-20.
While prototypes are expected to fly initially with US-supplied General Electric F414 engines, these are considered an interim measure, with India seeking a more powerful propulsion system in the 110–130 kN thrust range for production models.
Collaboration on the XF9 or a derivative could merge Japan's materials science and manufacturing expertise with India's expanding aerospace base, potentially overcoming long-standing indigenous engine development challenges, a Defence.in report said.
Strategic and political hurdles
Any transfer of XF9 technology would require navigating Japan's still-cautious approach to defence exports. Although Tokyo has relaxed restrictions in recent years, most notably allowing Patriot missile shipments to the US for onward transfer to Ukraine.
Nevertheless, Japan's growing comfort with complex multinational defence projects, evidenced by its participation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with the United Kingdom and Italy, suggests that political will for such ventures may be strengthening.
If Tokyo and Canberra can successfully manage the frigate programme, it would bolster confidence in Japan's capacity to deliver sophisticated systems abroad, potentially paving the way for more ambitious collaborations with partners such as India.
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Lessons from engine supply disruptions
India's interest in diversifying its defence partnerships with Japan is partly informed by difficulties with Western suppliers.
India signed a significant agreement with the United States in June 2023 to co-produce the more powerful GE F414 engine domestically for the Tejas Mk2, including an estimated 80 per cent technology transfer.
While seen as a positive step, give the current geopolitical situation, India needs to actively pursue alternative suppliers as a hedge against potential bottlenecks. Options under consideration reportedly include France's Safran M88, already in service with the Indian Air Force's Rafales and Russia's Klimov RD-93MA, a modernised version of the MiG-series engine, another Defence.in report said.
Australia deal kindles hope for Japan
Japan's ability to win and execute complex international defence contracts, as demonstrated in the naval sector, offers a useful indicator of its potential to deliver similarly sophisticated aerospace systems in partnership with India.
The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' (MHI) $6.5 billion frigate deal with Australia could mark a turning point in the regional defence perspective, particularly as nations look to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on a limited number of Western suppliers, Financial Times reported.
From export restrictions to a breakthrough
For decades after the Second World War, Japan maintained a self-imposed ban on almost all arms exports, effectively confining its technologically advanced industrial base to serving only its Self-Defence Forces.
This policy shift began in 2014, when Tokyo eased restrictions, yet major international contracts remained elusive. The most notable setback came in 2016, when Japan lost out to France on a $35 billion Australian submarine contract.
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The tide appeared to turn with the announcement earlier this year that MHI had been chosen as Australia's preferred supplier for a new class of frigates.
The upgraded Mogami-class frigate design met Australia's operational needs, including a smaller crew complement of 90 compared to competing European designs requiring around 120 personnel, longer cruising ranges and increased weapons capacity.
Moreover, MHI was able to guarantee delivery of the first vessel by 2029, plugging a capability gap as the Royal Australian Navy retires its Anzac-class ships.
While the upfront cost was higher, Australian officials reportedly calculated that the Japanese design would be more economical over its lifetime due to lower operating and personnel expenses and a longer hull life, The Financial Times said in a report.
The deal, if finalised as planned next year, would be Japan's first international sale of a complete lethal defence platform since 1945 and could serve as a model for future exports of warships, missile systems and radar technologies.
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Constraints on Japan's defence expansion
Despite the milestone, Japan faces challenges in scaling up its defence production. Industry leaders have warned of capacity and labour shortages, particularly as Tokyo plans to increase defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP by 2027.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries' chair Yoshinori Kanehana noted that red-hot demand had already strained production lines, with annual CH-47 Chinook helicopter orders nearly tripling from 2017 to 2024. He stressed that while the sector needed to expand capacity, recruiting and training specialised workers remained a significant hurdle, The Financial Times said.
MHI's contract also involves producing the first three frigates in Japan, with the remaining eight to be built in Australia in partnership with Austal. Corey Wallace, an associate professor at Kanagawa University, cautioned that Japan's limited experience in managing overseas defence maintenance, services and supply chains could complicate the execution of such projects.
Jennifer Parker of the Australian National University similarly told Financial Times that any delays could strain bilateral ties, though successful delivery could firmly establish Japan as a credible alternative supplier in the global arms market.
Convergence of strategic interests
The convergence of Japan's push to expand its defence exports, its proven industrial base and India's urgent need for diversified and advanced propulsion systems presents a window of opportunity for both countries.
For India, securing Japanese engine technology could reduce dependence on Western suppliers, mitigate the risk of supply disruptions and accelerate the realisation of indigenous aerospace capabilities.
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For Japan, a successful collaboration would demonstrate its readiness to supply cutting-edge systems beyond its immediate alliance network, reinforcing its position in the global defence market.