Amid reports of the next-generation Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) being offered to India, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart, General Nakatani, conducted wide-ranging talks and pledged to deepen defense ties.
Rajnath Singh hosted General Nakatani on May 5 and discussed a wide range of topics, from terrorism to regional cooperation.
According to reports, Singh thanked General Nakatani for expressing solidarity with India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and praised Tokyo’s efforts to deepen defense ties with New Delhi amid China’s military posturing in the Indo-Pacific.
“I take this opportunity to compliment you for your immense contribution to deepening Indo-Japan defense cooperation. You had earlier laid the foundation for a strong bilateral defense partnership by concluding the Defense Equipment and Technical Cooperation Agreement and the Protection of Military Information Agreement. As you have taken the charge of Defense again, I am confident our cooperation will attain greater heights,” the Indian Defense Minister was quoted as saying by ANI News.
The Indian Defense Minister later wrote on X: “India shares a Special, Strategic and Global partnership with Japan. During the bilateral meeting, we discussed defence cooperation and regional security.” The two sides reportedly discussed ways to boost India-Japan defence industrial cooperation. However, the specifics of these deliberations were not revealed.
The two leaders reviewed progress on existing defence agreements, including discussions from their previous meeting in Laos. They focused on expanding cooperation in industry, technology, and interoperability between their armed forces and explored enhanced military exercises, technology sharing, and maritime coordination.
This is the second meeting between the Defense Ministers of the two states in about six months, with the last in November 2024, in Laos, on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).
In November 2024, the two countries signed the Memorandum of Intent for the “co-development” of the UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) mast, which is essentially a conical structure that enhances a warship’s stealth characteristics and communications. The co-development will take place under the India-Japan Defense Technology Cooperation.
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The two leaders also advanced discussions on the mutual supply and services agreement, which is currently being considered to improve military interoperability. If signed, the reciprocal supply and services agreement would allow the armed forces of the two countries to use each other’s bases for supply replenishment and maintenance.
In recent years, Japan and India have been strengthening their security ties by conducting joint drills. For example, the joint military exercise, named the ”Dharma Guardian,” at the East Fuji Training Area in Japan took place in March 2025.
Additionally, the two sides have launched multiple patrols as part of the QUAD grouping. India, Japan, the US, and Australia are members of the QUAD grouping, which Beijing views as an anti-China alliance.
Last August, during the “two-plus-two” talks held in New Delhi, the two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in outer space and cyber. At the time, it was also decided that the security cooperation would be updated, with its signing expected when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Japan.
However, it is pertinent to note that despite burgeoning defense cooperation between India and Japan, India has categorically refused to join the Asian NATO proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, India’s external affairs minister, S. Jaishankar, said, “We don’t have that kind of strategic architecture in mind.”
Despite that, the two countries have continued to strengthen ties. This was recently demonstrated when Japan invited India to join the sixth-generation Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). Neither side officially revealed whether the recent visit included talks related to the GCAP.
Japanese GCAP Offer To India
General Nakatani’s visit comes amid reports that Japan has offered India participation in the GCAP, a collaborative sixth-generation aircraft program that Japan is working on with Britain and Italy.
The GCAP combines the Japanese F-X program and the British Tempest, which aims to create a cutting-edge combat aircraft that integrates advanced technologies to ensure air superiority in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific and global security environment.
Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Italy’s Leonardo, and Britain’s BAE Systems will lead the project as system integrators.
Although not officially confirmed by India or Japan, reports suggest that Japan has formally proposed to India, inviting it to the GCAP program.
Kyodo News reported the proposal on April 30, 2025, citing a Japanese government source. According to reports, Japanese officials traveled to India in February 2025 to brief Indian authorities about the program and invite them to participate.
The report also noted that the Modi government has set up a “Make in India” initiative to promote domestic production and has shown interest in the Japanese proposal. The proposal aims to reduce the project’s substantial costs and deepen security ties with India in the Indo-Pacific region.
The alleged offer comes months after Italy, Japan, and Britain ratified the GCAP treaty, formally establishing the GCAP International Government Organization (GIGO). This organization will be in charge of developing the next-generation fighter jet, establishing capabilities requirements, and overseeing the program’s industrial framework.
It intends to strengthen the defense-industrial base of the three countries while promoting advanced military capabilities by encouraging cooperation among major defense manufacturers. The GCAP partners have been looking to invite new partners to lower costs and leverage more resources.
While the GCAP partners were mulling the prospect of opening the program to other partners, nothing worked out.
For instance, Sweden earlier showed interest but later withdrew from it. Similarly, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a potential candidate for the program, but Japan’s opposition has hindered its entry. A new entrant’s entry is contingent upon the unanimous approval of the three existing members.
The UK and Italy are unlikely to oppose India’s entry. For India, the offer might present an invaluable opportunity to modernize its air force.
With China now flying sixth-generation prototypes and Pakistan rapidly building capability with the acquisition of J-35A stealth fighters, the need to make technological advancements and ramp up its air force reigns supreme for New Delhi.
If India signs up for the GCAP, it could simultaneously advance work on its Advanced Multi-Combat Aircraft (AMCA) while accruing crucial knowledge and technology.
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