The world's second fully stealth 6th-generation fighter aircraft project has received a boost after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer approved the strategically important initiative. This project, co-developed by Group of Seven (G7) members — the UK, Italy, and Japan, received the green light last week.
According to a report by the Financial Times, Starmer and his cabinet approved the Global Combat Aircraft Programme (GCAP) at a meeting last week. A formal announcement of the project is expected in the next few weeks.
The GCAP was formed to counter increasing threats from Russia and China. The initiative will merge two different military programs — the UK and Italy's Tempest Project, for which the UK had already pledged an initial 2 billion pounds, and Japan's F-X programme, as per an NDTV report.
As per the NDTV report, in December 2023 Italy, Japan, and the UK signed a treaty. There was uncertainty regarding the UK’s participation, due to the Labour Party's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) which could have scrapped the country’s participation due to high costs However, with Starmer's go-ahead, those fears have been laid to rest.
Although the final cost of the multi-billion-dollar project is not known yet, the target to develop and commission the stealth fighter jet has been set for 2035. The project is going to be jointly developed by British aircraft manufacturer BAE Systems, engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, Italy's Leonardo Aerospace, and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
According to the trilateral agreement, the joint GCAP government headquarters will be based in the UK. "UK is a proud member of the Global Combat Air Programme, working together with our partners Japan and Italy, we are fully focused on delivering a next-generation combat aircraft for 2035," the UK's Defence Ministry reportedly said.
If the GCAP deadlines are met, the supersonic 6th-generation stealth fighter will be the world’s second such fighter jet in the world, following the US B-21 Raider Bomber, produced by Northrop Grumman.