UK, Italy and Japan team up to develop sixth-generation fighter jets

News December 11, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak announced a collaboration with Italy, and Japan to develop the sixth-generation fighter jet that would incorporate high-tech armaments and artificial intelligence.

The newly announced fighter jets would enter service by 2035 to replace the UK’s aging fleet of Typhoon jets. The ground-breaking partnership is one of the largest defense partnerships between Europe and Asia and it is Japan’s first major industrial defense collaboration with the West beyond the United States since World War II.

The agreement plans to merge Japan’s F-X fighter jet development program and the British-led Future Combat Air System project, also known as the Tempest jet program into a single venture that would be known as Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Britain’s BAE Systems, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Italy’s Leonardo will lead the design of the aircraft.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the next-gen fighter jet will have advanced digital capabilities in artificial intelligence and cyber warfare and will be designed jointly by the defense firms of three countries.

A joint statement released by the leaders of the three countries said that “We are committed to upholding the rules-based, free and open international order, which is more important than ever at a time when these principles are contested, and threats and aggression are increasing.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak separately released a statement regarding the agreement that said his country aims to stay at the cutting edge of defense technology in the backdrop of the global security situation. He said that having the latest defense technology “means that we can keep the country safe from the new threats that we face, it also adds billions to our economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs across the country.”

🇬🇧🤝🇯🇵🤝🇮🇹

UK, Japan and Italy have agreed to launch the Global Combat Air Programme to develop a future fighter jet.

1️⃣ Entering service from 2035
2️⃣ Combining defence industry expertise
3️⃣ Creating high-skilled jobs in the UK and partner countries

👉 https://t.co/oUNNdClgl7 pic.twitter.com/HdUvUqp28k
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) December 9, 2022

F-X Fighter Jet: The sixth-generation fighter jet F-X is Japan’s first indigenously developed stealth fighter. Japan will spend $48 billion (around 5 trillion yen) on the project, including development and production costs, to build approximately 90 aircraft.

Tempest Aircraft: The UK’s sixth-generation fighter jet program, Tempest, aims to leapfrog the capabilities of the world’s most advanced fighter jets such as the F-35, F-22, J-20, and Su-57. Tempest is being developed by the U.K., Swedish, and Italian air forces and their respective prime contractors, BAE Systems, SAAB, and Leonardo.

The deal comes at a time when Europe is facing a security challenge from Russia while Japan is struggling to keep up with China’s increasing military influence in the Indo-Pacific region along with North Korea’s increasing attacking capabilities.

*^{Rolls-Royce and Reaction Engines have formed a strategic partnership aimed at powering next-generation warplanes. (Image Credit: Rolls-Royce/Reaction Engines graphic)}*

Japan’s territorial rival South Korea is also increasing its defense cooperation with European states. South Korea recently delivered the first batch of its K2 tanks and K9 howitzers to Poland in a $5.8 billion deal. The Tempest project would help Japan to counter China and North Korea’s increasing military might, while keeping up with South Korea’s integration into the European defense market.

Earlier this week Japanese leadership hinted that it plans double its defense spending, making it about 2% of its gross domestic product. Japanese administration spends no more than 1% of its total GDP on defense. By spending 2%, Japan would come in line with the standards of the NATO alliance, which requires its members to have budget spending accounting for at least 2% of the total GDP. Despite being an ally to many NATO member states, Japan is not a NATO signatory.