British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak separately said that his country needed to stay at the cutting edge of defence technology and that the deal would deliver new jobs.
Britain’s BAE Systems, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Italy’s Leonardo will lead design of the aircraft, which will have advanced digital capabilities in AI and cyber warfare, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defence.
NATO COMPATIBLE
European missile maker MBDA will also join the project, along with avionics manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric. Rolls-Royce, IHI and Avio Aero will work on the engine, the ministry added.
The three countries, however, have yet to work out some details of how the project will proceed, including work shares and where the development will take place.
Britain also wants Japan to improve how it provides security clearances to contractors who will work on the aircraft, sources with knowledge of the discussion told Reuters.
Other countries could join the project, Britain said, adding that the fighter, which will replace its Typhoon fighters and complement its F-35 Lightning fleet, will be compatible with fighters flown by other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partners.
Confirmation of the plan comes days after companies in France, Germany and Spain secured the next phase of a rival initiative to build a next-generation fighter that could be in operation from 2040.
The US, which has pledged to defend all three countries through its membership of NATO and a separate security pact with Japan, also welcomed the joint Europe-Japan agreement.
“The United States supports Japan’s security and defence cooperation with likeminded 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.
Japan had initially considered building its next fighter with help from US defence contractor Lockheed Martin, which had proposed an aircraft that combined the F-22 airframe with the flight systems from the F-35 fighter.
Source: CNA