Japan, Italy, and the UK have signed a deal to make a new generation of fighter by the year 2035.
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) will combine the Italian F-X program with the U.K.-led Future Air Combat System (FACS), also known as “Tempest.”
According to a joint U.S. and Japanese statement released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense on Friday, both countries are strengthening their cooperation in a number of areas, and the United States supports the three countries’ collaboration. Following a series of discussions on the capabilities of autonomous systems that could supplement Japan’s next-generation fighter program and other platforms, the two countries agreed to begin concrete cooperation within the next year.
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is intended for prospective interoperability with the U.S., NATO, and the partners of the three nations around the world, according to a joint statement by the prime ministers of the three nations.
