Japan, Britain, and Italy announced a plan to develop a fighter by 2035

ARK News… The leaders of Japan, Britain, and Italy on Friday announced that they will work together to develop a new-generation fighter jet to enter service by 2035.

The leaders of the three countries said, in a joint statement, that “they will build on long-term defense relations” through the Global Air Combat Program (GCAP), and added that this plan would “achieve economic and industrial gains on a broader scale, as well as support Jobs and livelihood sector in Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday announced that his country will work with Italy and Japan to develop new-generation combat aircraft.

He said, "A defense partnership will ensure Britain and its allies have superiority over those who seek to harm us," according to British news agency BA Media.

London seeks to have the planes, called Tempest in Britain, in the skies by 2035 as a successor to the Royal Air Force's Typhoon fighter.

Britain aspires to enhance the capabilities of the aircraft developed under the Global Air Combat Program (GCEP), including drones, advanced sensors, and advanced weapons.

On the other hand, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said, at a press conference in the capital, Tokyo: "I hope that this time our cooperation will become the basis for peace and stability in the European regions, and the Indian and Pacific regions," according to the Japanese "Kyodo" news agency.

He added that before reaching the agreement, "the three countries held discussions under the policy that Japan will lead the development process."

According to Japanese government officials, Tokyo plans to deploy 100 aircraft in 2035 to replace the Air Defense Force's F-2 fighter jets, which will begin to be phased out in the same year.

Officials said Japan is also looking into exporting the new aircraft to other countries in the future.

To facilitate arms exports, the Japanese government is expected to seek to review its strict rules on the export of defense equipment when it updates its national security policy next week.

These strict rules are adhered to under Japan's pacifist constitution.

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