On December 13, 2024, the UK, Italy, and Japan announced plans to establish a joint company for the development, design, and manufacturing of advanced stealth aircraft. This significant defense project comes amid global political turbulence and regional conflicts.
According to reports from Reuters, European countries are rushing to build up their own military forces. With Russia continuing its invasion of Ukraine and President-elect Donald Trump calling on NATO members to increase defense spending, the need for enhanced military capabilities is apparent. Additionally, as China poses an increasing threat, Japan is also looking to bolster its military strength.
This announcement marks a crucial step forward from a previous agreement. In 2022, the UK, Italy, and Japan signed an initial agreement for the Global Combat Air Plan (GCAP) aiming to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter to replace Europe’s retiring fighter jets and Japan’s F-2 fighters by 2040.
The program envisions integrating stealth fighters with unmanned drones for joint operations, with the first aircraft expected to be in service by 2035.
Herman Claesen, Managing Director of BAE Systems, stated, “This is absolutely the target date for our plan.” The swift establishment of the new joint company has put GCAP’s operational timeline far ahead of the retirement schedule for European fighter jets.
Given the imminent threat from China, Japan is particularly eager for the project to proceed according to plan.
Upon its establishment, the joint company, with BAE Systems, Leonardo, and JAIEC each holding a 33.3% stake, will be headquartered in the UK with the first CEO coming from Italy.
The new company will subcontract aircraft manufacturing and assembly to BAE Systems, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, and Leonardo.
Roberto Cingolani, CEO of Leonardo, emphasized during a meeting, “Defending peace is a necessity, and defending peace comes with a cost, that’s why collaboration between governments and businesses is crucial as no one can achieve this goal alone… (GCAP) is a great example of it.”
Previously known as “Tempest” in the UK, this collaboration allows the three countries to share costs in the billions and secure fighter jet orders while aiming to boost sales internationally to increase production.
In November of last year, the three countries stated they were discussing opening GCAP to other nations, with Italy’s Foreign Minister suggesting it could expand to Saudi Arabia.
Claesen noted that the new company is expected to be established by mid-2025, allowing for new members to join.
“The door is open to other partners, including Saudi Arabia, but the ultimate decision lies with the governments of these three countries,” he told reporters.
The formation of the new company dispels previous speculations that the new UK Labour government elected in July may scale back or cancel GCAP following a defense review in 2025.
Claesen stated, “In fact, the progress made by the three governments and the advancement we have achieved with this joint venture reflect the commitment shown by the UK government in recent weeks.”
Meanwhile, France, Germany, and Spain are also pursuing their own next-generation fighter jet projects.