Britain, Japan, and Italy Seal Treaty for Advanced Fighter Jet Programs

14 Dec, 2023

Britain, Japan, and Italy Seal Treaty for Advanced Fighter Jet Programs

Italy, Japan, and Britain inked an international treaty aimed at launching a cutting-edge combat air program, with ambitions to develop an advanced fighter jet by 2035. The partnership, formed after combining independent fighter projects from Tokyo and London, requires parliamentary ratification in each nation. Commencing joint development in 2025, the program is set to achieve significant milestones.

Britain will serve as the host country for both the Global Combat Air Programme’s (GCAP) industrial equivalent and the joint government headquarters. Reports indicate that the inaugural chief executive of the government entity will be from Japan, while the first leader of the commercial organization will be from Italy.

Grant Shapps, the British defense minister, emphasized the program's pivotal role in global security, affirming substantial advancements towards delivering these new jets to their respective air forces.

Shapps, alongside Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto and Japanese colleague Minoru Kihara, convened in Tokyo to discuss the initiative. The supersonic stealth aircraft, envisaged by the British government, boasts radar capabilities capable of processing data at a rate ten thousand times greater than existing systems.

Leading European entities, including missile manufacturer MBDA, BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Rolls-Royce, are integral to this project. Additional involvement spans companies such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, IHI Corp, and Avio Aero, each contributing expertise in avionics and engine manufacturing.

Shifting gears to economic updates, the UK faced a contraction in October, attributed to adverse weather conditions and rising interest rates, impacting consumer activity. The Bank of England's imminent rate decision seeks to counter inflation but has impacted household spending.

Storm Babet's onslaught exacerbated challenges, affecting retail and tourism sectors. Meanwhile, Japan unveiled its maiden dedicated fund for grid storage batteries, a significant move within its thriving energy storage sector. Itochu and Gore Street Capital (GSC) jointly spearhead this investment fund, marking a new milestone in Japan's energy initiatives.