That is why your purpose to develop 5th gen is a cock-measuring stick rather than really about strategic depth. Unlike us, we develop it as a target for US's dominance in Asia Pacific. We have a real purpose and depth. For you, you don't need to develop a 5th gen because you can afford to buy them from anyone in the world. We can't so we develop ourselves. That is real purpose, my Nihon Friend! LOL
Provided, Japan is in an enviable and advantageous position in having an integrated defense industry with that of the United States. Japan is actually going to take a global participatory role in the F-35 Global Supply Chain. The F-3 Program will be used to project Japanese Power in the East Asian Region as well as in the Pacific and Beyond. That is the real purpose , my Friend.