UK signs ‘next generation’ fighter jet deal to ward off Russia and China threat
The UK will be home to the headquarters of a project with Italy and Japan to build a new ‘next generation’ jet fighter defence experts say will be “crucial to global security”.
Under the deal, all three nations will collaborate to build military planes with supersonic capability and cutting-edge technology. The Ministry of Defence hopes to have the jets, to be called Tempest in the UK, flying by 2035 as a successor to its RAF Typhoon fighters.
“Our world-leading combat aircraft programme aims to be crucial to global security and we continue to make hugely positive progress towards delivery of the new jets to our respective air forces,” Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said as he met his Japanese and Italian counterparts, Minoru Kihara and Guido Crosetto, in Tokyo to confirm the deal.
The parliaments of each country must ratify the agreement, which aims to have the combat aircraft in flight by 2035. The joint development phase of the programme is due to launch in 2025.
Both the joint government headquarters of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and its industry counterpart will be based in Britain. The government organisation’s first chief executive will come from Japan, while the first leader of the business organisation will be from Italy, Britain said.
Defence analysts say the ambitious project will merge existing national defence plans in each country to develop aircraft to meet aerial security threats from Russia and China. It hopes to have the jets flying much quicker and at less cost than previous jets such as the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The supersonic stealth jet will feature a radar that can provide 10,000 times more data than current systems, the Government said. Pilots will be able to use virtual reality in the aircraft’s digital cockpit, with vital information displayed directly in front of them.
The on-board weapons system will deploy artificial intelligence and machine learning to “maximise the effect” its arsenal can deliver, the Ministry of Defence said.
“The UK-based headquarters will also see us make important decisions collaboratively and at pace, working with our close partners Italy and Japan, and our impressive defence industries, to deliver an outstanding aircraft.”
Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo, European missile-maker MBDA and engine maker Rolls-Royce are involved, along with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japanese avionics manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric, and engine-makers IHI Corporation and Avio Aero are also involved.
