Japan, UK, And Italy Agree To Accelerate Joint Fighter Jet Project

The defense ministers of Japan, the UK, and Italy have agreed to accelerate the joint development of a next-generation fighter jet, announcing that a trilateral government organization would be established to coordinate with the companies involved in the production, Japanese officials said, Mari Yamaguchi reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Several private sector companies, including Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Britain’s BAE Systems PLC, and Italy’s Leonardo, are participating in the project. I Photo: Leonardo

The three countries, which agreed in 2022 to jointly develop a new combat aircraft under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), aim to deploy the aircraft by 2035. This move is part of their effort to strengthen defense cooperation amid rising threats from China, Russia, and North Korea.

The next-generation fighter jet will replace Japan’s retiring F-2s, which were jointly developed with the U.S., and Britain’s Tempest.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, following a meeting with his UK and Italian counterparts, John Healey and Guido Crosett, announced that a joint body called the GCAP International Government Organization (GIGO) will be established by the end of this year to oversee the aircraft's development.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Group of Seven defense ministers meeting in Naples, Italy. Several private sector companies, including Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Britain’s BAE Systems PLC, and Italy’s Leonardo, are participating in the project.