A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
On August 5, the Australian government announced its decision to adopt Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate design to fulfill the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) requirement for a new class of six …
Silent Currents: The Strategic Significance of Australia’s Frigate Choice Read More
Japanese media revealed on July 6 that Japan plans to transfer its Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippines, potentially marking the first such export in modern Japanese history. Media reports …
Japan Closes In On First Major Warship Export Read More
Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) formally inked contracts for the production of two new-build naval destroyers being equipped with the AEGIS air warfare battle management system. The new vessels – …
Japan Orders Two Additional Aegis-Equipped Destroyers Read More
Japan’s Ministry of Defense has submitted a budget request of ¥8.54 trillion ($59.76 billion) for fiscal year 2025 (FY25). The requested total marks a 7.5 percent increase over the current …
No Going Back: Japan Continues to Hike Defense Spending Read More
While the geopolitical focus of Washington policymakers currently appears firmly directed towards Ukraine and Gaza, the recent meeting between the leaders of Japan and the U.S. reinforced a growing security …
Joint Leader Statement Underlines Tighter U.S.-Japan Embrace Read More
The Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) is a multinational collaborative project aimed at producing a sixth-generation fighter aircraft by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. GCAP is the merging result …
BRIEFER: Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) Read More
China appears to be sleepwalking toward a conflict over Taiwan. In response, East Asia has begun to prepare for a war that could start as early as 2026. While some …
East Asian Rearmament – The Red Line Podcast Read More
In a step announced on December 9, three nations – Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom – announced a joint agreement on a trilateral future fighter development project called the …
Japan Merges with Anglo-Italian Fighter Initiative to Form Global Combat Air Program Read More For nearly half a century, the one constant in Japan’s defense approach remained its budgeting. Year-in, year-out, regardless of government, Japan has earmarked no more than 1 percent of its …
Japan Prepares for a New Era in Defense Approach and Investment Read More
The decision by Australia to scrap its $66 billion deal to purchase French-designed submarines in favor of a nuclear-powered option enveloped within a broader three-nation security pact with the U.S. …
The Fallout from Australia’s Submarine Decision and Other Ramifications of the AUKUS Pact Read More