UK, Japan, Italy to establish headquarters in England for joint future fighter jet program

LONDON

The United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy have selected Reading, England, as the headquarters for their joint future fighter jet program, officials announced Wednesday.

The decision, unveiled during high-level discussions between UK Defence Secretary John Healey and Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, marks a significant step in deepening defense ties between the nations.

The new headquarters will oversee the development of the cutting-edge Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), a collaborative effort between the three nations to design and build a next-generation stealth fighter jet.

Joint-venture aims to produce fighter jet to rival America’s F-35.

The announcement comes as the UK and Japan commence Exercise Vigilant Isles in Japan, where more than 100 British troops from the 16 Air Assault Brigade are training alongside the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Forces on the island of Kyushu.

The exercise, now in its third year, aims to enhance the interoperability of both nations’ military forces. Notably, the UK is the only European country conducting bilateral military training on Japanese soil, highlighting the growing military cooperation between the two nations.

During the meeting in London, Healey and Nakatani also discussed the increasing importance of Indo-Pacific security and the need for continued collaboration in the face of global instability.

Healey reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to strengthening ties with Japan, stating, “With increasing instability across the world, it is more important than ever that we strengthen cooperation with our international partners like Japan.”

With over 3,500 engineers and programmers currently working on GCAP across the UK, the program is expected to create hundreds of skilled jobs in the coming years.

In Dec. 2024, BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. (JAIEC) signed a Joint Venture Agreement to form a new company that will lead the delivery of the program, which will also be headquartered in the UK.

“This agreement supports our efforts to safeguard national security while contributing to the UK Government’s Plan for Change, fostering economic growth, and raising living standards through the creation of skilled jobs,” Healey said.

Meanwhile, BAE Systems, based in Lancashire, currently manufactures the Eurofighter Typhoon in collaboration with Italy, Germany, and Spain, and produces components for the F-35, developed by the US defense giant Lockheed Martin.

The Global Combat Air Program venture, however, could soon expand to include Saudi Arabia.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani recently suggested that the partnership between the UK, Japan, and Italy may be extended to Saudi Arabia. "The deal we have with Britain and Japan… I think will now be extended to Saudi Arabia," he said.