ISTANBUL

The defense chiefs of Japan, the UK and Italy on Tuesday discussed their trilateral collaboration to jointly develop the next-generation fighter aircraft.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, UK Defense Secretary John Healey and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto held the Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting via teleconference, according to a statement from Japan’s Defense Ministry.

“At this meeting, the three ministers discussed the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a trilateral collaboration, to jointly develop the next-generation fighter aircraft,” the statement said.

Healey and Crosetto congratulated Koizumi on his appointment as Japan's defense minister. In response, Minister Koizumi expressed his commitment to collaborating closely with both of them to ensure steady advancement of the GCAP.

The three heads of defense “reaffirmed their commitment in the preceding meeting in July to conclude the first international contract between the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) and the Joint Venture Edgewing within this year, and agreed to continue working closely together to finalize the necessary arrangements,” the statement added.