Japan, UK, Italy agree to set up fighter jet plan liaison body

The defense ministers of Japan, the UK and Italy have agreed to establish a coordinating body to proceed with their plan to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet, a key step to putting the project into practice, Report informs referring to Kyodo News.

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and his British and Italian counterparts, Grant Shapps and Guido Crosetto, signed the treaty as they held talks in Tokyo to reaffirm the schedule for the warplane's deployment in 2035.

The Global Combat Air Program fighter project was unveiled in December last year as the three countries face increasingly severe security challenges, including Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine that began in February last year.

The program also marks Japan's first joint defense equipment development deal with a nation other than its close security ally, the United States.

Under the coordinating entity's supervision, a consortium formed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Britain's BAE Systems Plc, and Italy's Leonardo S.p.A. aims to finish the design work by 2027, according to sources close to the matter.

The Japanese government will seek parliamentary approval of the plan to set up and run the entity during the 2024 regular Diet session, aiming to secure 4 billion yen ($28 million) for Japan's share of the funds needed to operate it, the sources have said.