Japan, UK, Italy accelerate development of next-generation fighter jet

Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy have agreed to accelerate the joint development of an advanced fighter jet and establish a trilateral governmental organisation, the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), by the end of this year

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The GCAP will oversee the development of the aircraft with a view to deploying it by 2035.

The three countries' defence ministers met in Italy on the sidelines of the G7 Defence Ministers' meeting last week to discuss the initiative. Japan has appointed former Vice Minister of Defence Masami Oku to lead GCAP, which will be headquartered in the UK.

The new aircraft will replace the Japanese F-2, developed in partnership with the United States, and the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is produced jointly with the UK, Italy, Spain, and Germany.

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the UK's BAE Systems, and Italy's Leonardo will take part in the new project.

Japan's participation in the GCAP again shows that the country is no longer refraining from developing offensive and high-tech weapons through its post-war constitution and policies.

Source: The Defence Post