<span style="color: #222222;">Japan has announced that it will jointly develop its next-generation fighter jet with the United Kingdom and Italy as it looks to expand defense cooperation beyond its traditional ally, the United States.<br />''<br />''The Mitsubishi F-X fighter jet will replace the aging fleet of F-2s that Japan previously developed with the United States.<br />''<br />''The nations will merge their current plans for development of next-generation planes – the F-X and Britain's Tempest, a successor to the Eurofighter Typhoon – to produce the new combat aircraft for deployment in 2035.<br />''<br />''The deal will give Japan greater support in countering China's growing assertiveness and allow Britain a bigger presence in the Indo-Pacific region.<br />''<br />''The announcement came four days after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida set spending targets aimed at building up Japan's military capability, including a huge boost in defense spending over the next five years.  <br />''<br />''To counter growing threats from China and North Korea, Japan has been expanding its defense partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific, including Australia, with Southeast Asian countries and with Europe.</span><br />