Japanese defense minister Yasuo Ichikawa said Saturday that the government intends to relax its decades-old restriction on weapons exports to facilitate the participation of Japanese companies in future multinational arms development projects.

The official decision to relax the ban is expected to be made by Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura on Tuesday, with the government likely to state that the joint development projects will be primarily associated with improving aged-machinery for Japan's Self-Defense Forces that are used by Japan during United Nation's peacekeeping operations.

In addition, Ichikawa also noted at a news conference earlier on Saturday, that Japan's involvement in joint weapons production with other countries would aid the Ministry of Defense's rising spending costs.

Collaborations with other countries would help offset some of the huge costs associated with new, state-of-the-art defense technology, the defense minister added.

"We will build a new framework," Ichikawa told reporters. "The cost of highly capable defense equipment has increased".

Defense experts have noted however that there is anxiety among Japanese leaders that the nation's defense capabilities are falling behind those of other countries, at a time when uncertainties, such as those on the Korean Peninsular following the death of the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jon Il, loom in close proximity to Japan.

According to sources with knowledge of the matter, the shifting security dynamic in the Asia Pacific region has acted as a catalyst for Japan moving forward with repealing its ban on weapons exports.

Japan's self-imposed weapons ban dates back to 1967 and was introduced by then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato.

In 1976 the ban was heightened, although exceptions were made with weapons-related technologies being exported to the United States in 1983, and joint projects on anti-missile hardware also conducted in collaboration with the United States.

Relaxing the export ban however will almost certainly draw the ire of Japanese politicians and citizens, not to mention the global community, favoring Japan's so-called pacifist stance and will spark extensive debate on political, national and international levels.

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution forbids the use of force as a means to settling international disputes, but also forbids Japan from maintaining an army, navy or air force.

But the latest move by the government has led some military experts to conclude that Japan is taking a more muscular approach to its defense as its security alliance with the United States tightens.

However, Japan relaxing its ban on weapons exports would be well-received by the United States as it would lead to a myriad of joint opportunities between Washington and Tokyo and have far- reaching defense and economic implications for both countries.

To this point, the Pentagon on Tuesday hailed Japan's selection of its F-35 stealth fighter as its mainstay fighter jet, as Japan' s procurement of 42 such fighters will help finance the U.S. multi- trillion dollar, fifth-generation fighter jet program.

"We're pleased that Japan will purchase Lockheed Martin F-35 next-gen aircraft," Pentagon press secretary George Little was quoted as saying following Japan's announcement it had selected the Lockheed Martin-made F-35 jet over the Boeing-made F/A-18 Superhornet and the Europe's Typhoon multirole fighter jet.

According to the Pentagon, Japan joins more than 10 other U.S. allies that have signaled an intention to buy the stealth-capable, F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.

"Pentagon officials are grateful for our strong ally's confidence in the U.S. industrial base," Little said.

Ichikawa said that going forward he wants Japan's military aircraft to be equipped with qualities that can deal properly with the various changes facing the nation's security environment.

"The security environment surrounding future fighter jets is transforming. The F-35 has capabilities that can firmly respond to the changes," Ichikawa said recently.

The defense ministry said that the initial contract with Lockheed will be for four jets in the fiscal year beginning April 1, with the cost expected to be in the region of 8.9 billion yen ( 114 million U.S. dollars) for each jet.

Masaki Fukasawa, director of aircraft division at the defense ministry, said that the total cost of the 42 fighters, including maintenance and operation expenditures, could total in excess of 1. 6 trillion yen over the next 20 years.

The decision to select the F-35 was also influenced by the fact that Japanese companies can be involved in the production of the jet on home soil and provide superlative technical and logistical support as Japan's aviation industry is widely regarded as being in a technical league of its own.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. will be involved in work on the F-35's mainframe structures, while IHI Corp. will provide its expertise on the jet's engines and related systems. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has been slated to be involved in the production of the jet's highly sensitive mission-related avionics.

A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin's said that Japan could feasibly become one of the primary "global suppliers to the F-35 stealth fighter program," providing the Japanese government rescinds its age-old ban on military exports.

When Japan officially reverses its ban on weapons exports, Japanese contractors will be in a position to bid for a myriad of lucrative defense contracts in the United States and elsewhere and be able to utilize its domestic manufacturers to tap into foreign markets.

Moreover, Japan will be able to make cost-effective purchases of its own military hardware, including ships, aircraft carriers, jets, helicopters, missiles and next-generation electronic and laser-based weapons, through wholesale purchases and production- affiliated subsidies.