I recently attended a symposium held by the Air Development and Test Command in Fuchu. There was no particular discussion of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the next-generation fighter being jointly developed by Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
One of the main topics was the organisational restructuring of the Air Development and Test Command. It was explained that the organisation would cease to exist in its current form at the end of the current fiscal year and that, going forward, it would work in coordination with organisations responsible for the space domain.
Another key topic was a shift in the approach to developing military equipment. Rather than following the traditional approach of beginning with the required specifications for a piece of equipment, the new approach starts by identifying the missions that need to be accomplished and then determining what capabilities and equipment are necessary to carry them out. In other words, the emphasis is shifting from equipment-driven development to a mission-oriented approach, in which the required capabilities and equipment are derived from operational needs.
