As Japan and India deepen their defense ties, the Defense Ministry plans to dispatch Air Self-Defense Force F-2 fighter jets to India for the first time to participate in a joint exercise, according to ministry sources.

The objective is for the deployment to “serve as a check on China,” a source said.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is expected to discuss the dispatch with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, during his visit to the South Asian country in mid-August.

The SDF and the Indian military conducted their first joint exercise involving fighter aircraft in Japan in 2023.

Koizumi and Singh are expected to discuss bolstering bilateral defense cooperation and defense equipment transfers.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in India in July.

The two leaders reached a broad agreement on exporting the Unicorn communications antenna, which is installed on Maritime SDF Mogami-class frigates, to India.

The two countries are also considering joint development of defense-purpose drones equipped with artificial intelligence.

Both projects will likely be on the agenda for the defense ministers’ meeting.

Amid China’s intensifying military activities, Tokyo is seeking to ramp up defense cooperation with New Delhi with an eye to keeping Beijing in check.

Prior to his visit to India, Koizumi is expected to travel to Australia.

Arrangements are being made for a meeting in Canberra on Aug. 18 with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles and New Zealand Defense Minister Chris Penk, the sources said.

Australia has decided to procure an upgraded version of the Mogami-class frigate.

The Defense Ministry hopes to export the ship to New Zealand as well.

“We aim to pitch the vessel to New Zealand (at the three-way meeting),” a senior Defense Ministry official said.

Wellington has shortlisted the upgraded Mogami-class frigate and the British Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate as candidates for its next-generation fleet.

A final selection is expected in 2027.

Koizumi is also expected to hold separate talks with his Australian and New Zealand counterparts on Aug. 18.

(This article was written by Mizuki Sato and Daisuke Yajima.)