By Japan, Britain, and Italy are merging their next-generation jet fighter projects in a ground-breaking partnership spanning Europe and Asia that is Japan’s first major industrial defence collaboration beyond the United States since World War Two.
The competing Franco-German-Spanish project, which has been delayed by political and business disputes amongst the participants, and the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) are both in the process of development at the same time.
According to the agreement made on Friday, Japan’s F-X project and the UK’s Future Combat Air program, known as Tempest, would be combined.
The expected tens of billions of dollars in development expenditures would be split among the three countries, however, the precise amount will depend on a combined analysis of costs and national budgets.
The agreement may help Japan counter the expanding military might of its larger neighbour and give Britain a bigger security role in a region that is a crucial driver of global economic growth, especially in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and increasing Chinese military activity around Japan and Taiwan.
“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,” the three countries said in a joint leaders’ statement.
Japan this month will release a military build-up plan that is anticipated to raise defence expenditure to almost 2% of gross domestic product over five years in response to what it perceives as worsening regional security.
Separately, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that his nation needs to be at the forefront of defence technology and that the agreement would create new employment.
The aircraft, which will feature cutting-edge digital capabilities in AI and cyber warfare, will be designed by Britain’s BAE Systems PLC, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Italy’s Leonardo, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
NATO compatible
The ministry noted that the project would also include the European missile manufacturer MBDA as well as the avionics producer Mitsubishi Electric Corp. The engine will be developed by Rolls-Royce PLC, IHI Corp., and Avio Aero.
However, the three nations have not yet agreed on several specifics of how the project would continue, such as work shares and the location of the facility.
Additionally, Britain wants Japan to enhance the way it grants security clearances to contractors who would service planes.
According to Britain, more nations may join the project. It also stated that the fighter, which would replace its Typhoon aircraft and add to its fleet of F-35 Lightning aircraft, will be interoperable with aircraft operated by other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.
The plan’s confirmation comes just days after businesses in France, Germany, and Spain won the next round of a competing project to develop a next-generation fighter that might be operational by 2040.
The United States hailed the combined Europe-Japan accord as well since it has vowed to protect all three nations through membership in NATO and a separate security arrangement with Japan.
“The United States supports Japan’s security and defence cooperation with like-minded allies and partners, including with the United Kingdom and Italy,” the US Department of Defense said in a joint statement with Japan’s Ministry of Defense.
Initially, Lockheed Martin Corp., a US defence contractor, had suggested an aircraft that would combine the F-22 airframe with the F-35 fighter’s flying technologies as Japan’s next fighter.
