Japan, UK, Italy cooperate to manufacture fighter jets
(Baonghean.vn) - Japan, Britain and Italy are taking their next-generation jet fighter projects to a groundbreaking partnership spanning Europe and Asia, Japan's first major industrial defense cooperation project outside the United States since World War II.
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Illustration photo. Photo: AP |
In a joint statement by the three leaders on December 9, the agreement, reported by Reuters in July, aims to put an advanced frontline fighter into service by 2035 by combining the UK-led Future Combat Air System project, also known as Tempest, with Japan's FX program in a consortium called the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP).
“We are committed to upholding rules-based, free and open norms, which are more important than ever at a time when these principles are contested, and threats and aggression escalate,” the joint statement said.
At a time of deteriorating regional security, Japan this month announced plans to beef up its military, which will see defense spending double to around 2% of GDP over the next five years. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said London needs to be at the forefront of defense technology and that the deal will create new jobs.
Britain's BAE Systems PLC, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy and Italy's Leonardo will design the aircraft, with advanced digital features in AI and cyber warfare, according to Japan's Defense Ministry.
The deal could help Japan counter the growing military power of its larger neighbor and give Britain a greater security role in a region that is a driver of global economic growth./.
