Japan’s Mitsubishi Launches TX Jet Trainer to Modernize Military Pilot Training.

On May 21, 2025, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), one of Japan’s foremost defense and aerospace firms, unveiled the conceptual model of its new next-generation training aircraft, the TX, during the DSEI Japan defense exhibition in Chiba. This platform is designed as the future successor to the Kawasaki T-4, currently in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), and reflects MHI’s ambition to contribute directly to the development of a fully domestic advanced training capability. Introduced with MHI’s signature “cosmic design” colors, white, black, and blue, the TX represents a technological vision tailored to the next generation of Japanese military pilots.
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' presentation of the TX trainer concept at DSEI Japan 2025 represents more than a technological showcase, it is a strategic declaration (Picture source: X-User/Rikuno_Yuuno)

The TX project emerges at a time when Japan is accelerating efforts to modernize its defense tools amid growing regional security concerns. With China expanding its air capabilities and North Korea continuing its missile tests, the ability to train fighter pilots on platforms that simulate fifth-generation dynamics has become essential. Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) initiated a call for information in October 2024 to identify replacements for the aging T-4, and MHI’s unveiling marks the first concrete public proposal. The TX concept, therefore, holds significant strategic relevance for Japan’s defense autonomy and long-term airpower preparedness.

The TX is a twin-engine, two-seat fixed-wing jet trainer, designed to meet ATLA’s baseline requirement of achieving a cruising speed of at least Mach 0.8. The aircraft’s configuration mirrors the T-4 in its general architecture but incorporates substantial technological improvements, particularly in avionics, flight performance, and integration with modern simulation systems. The aircraft is envisioned to support both basic and advanced pilot training, bridging the gap between classroom instruction and live flight preparation for high-performance aircraft such as the F-35A and the future sixth-generation FX fighter. The model showcased at DSEI Japan suggests an emphasis on durability, modular systems integration, and interoperability with ground-based simulators.

Mitsubishi’s experience in the trainer domain lends credibility to the TX program. The company previously developed the T-2 advanced trainer, which entered service in 1975 and remained operational until 2006. Additionally, MHI has collaborated in the development and production of numerous components for the T-4 program, led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. While the TX is still in its early conceptual phase, its design benefits from decades of experience in Japan’s indigenous trainer development. The model presented reflects the firm’s vision of combining legacy reliability with modern technological expectations.

Compared to other training platforms such as the T-50 Golden Eagle by Korea Aerospace Industries or the Leonardo M-346 Master, the TX emphasizes indigenous design and production over international joint ventures. While the T-50 and M-346 offer combat training capabilities and export adaptability, Japan’s TX aims to serve a very specific national purpose: preparing JASDF pilots for a seamless transition to domestically operated or co-developed fifth and sixth-generation aircraft. The choice to retain twin engines, unlike many Western trainers, may offer enhanced safety and redundancy, especially valued in maritime and mountainous operating environments like those of Japan.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' presentation of the TX trainer concept at DSEI Japan 2025 represents more than a technological showcase, it is a strategic declaration. It demonstrates Japan’s intent to reinforce its national defense industry while preparing for the operational realities of sixth-generation air combat. Whether the TX is selected or not, its unveiling has already reshaped the conversation around Japan’s air training doctrine, highlighting the need for indigenous solutions in a rapidly evolving strategic environment. The TX thus stands as a bold step toward a more autonomous and forward-looking Japanese defense architecture.