The United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy have officially formalized their collaboration on a new supersonic stealth fighter, signing the necessary paperwork almost a year after the initial announcement.
(Photo : HBB Defense Military)
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New Joint Supersonic Stealth Fighter
On December 14, the UK Ministry of Defense revealed that the recently signed treaty is geared towards enhancing military capabilities, fostering prosperity, and yielding strategic benefits for the three participating nations.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, along with his Japanese and Italian counterparts, Minister Minoru Kihara and Minister Guido Crosetto, convened in Tokyo to ink a treaty marking a significant step forward in the development of the next-generation fighter jet.
Interesting Engineering reported that this milestone follows the formal initiation of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) program, with the joint development phase set to commence in 2025.
The project's headquarters will be situated in the United Kingdom, and the Ministry of Defense anticipates the creation of hundreds of jobs, with initial leadership roles based in Italy and Japan.
Emphasizing its commitment to future Indo-Pacific stability and global security, the new treaty is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving these objectives.
The first CEO will hail from Japan, and the headquarters aims to provide crucial military capabilities, enhance each country's combat air-industrial prowess, and ensure cost-effectiveness.
As stated in its press release, the UK's Defense Secretary Grant Shapps emphasized the significance of their world-leading combat aircraft program, envisioning it as a pivotal element in global security.
Shapps expressed satisfaction with the positive strides made towards delivering the new jets to the respective air forces of the UK, Italy, and Japan by 2035.
The collaborative decision-making process at the UK-based headquarters, involving close partnerships and coordination with defense industries, is expected to contribute to the excellence of the aircraft.
UK's Anticipated Jet
The UK Ministry of Defense's public announcement underscored the ambitious goals of the combat air aircraft, set to take flight by 2035.
Designed to leverage next-generation technologies, it aspires to become one of the world's most advanced, interoperable, adaptable, and connected fighter jets globally. The program is anticipated to generate highly skilled jobs in the UK and partner countries over the next decade and beyond.
A key feature of the new supersonic stealth jet is its powerful radar, capable of providing 10,000 times more data than current systems, offering a significant advantage in battle.
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In collaboration with Rolls-Royce, Leonardo UK, and MBDA UK, BAE Systems is leading the aircraft's development in the UK, with the involvement of hundreds of companies nationwide in the supply chain.
Working alongside lead companies from Japan and Italy, The Register reported that they are dedicated to advancing the design and development of this cutting-edge aircraft.
Described as a pivotal initiative for ensuring stability in the Euro-Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, and global security at large, the GCAP stands as a testament to the UK's influential role in advancing next-generation military capabilities.
The public announcement highlighted GCAP as a strong exemplar of the UK's global leadership, emphasizing its commitment to developing advanced military capabilities aimed at deterring and overcoming threats to the UK and its allies.
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