Japan, Britain, Italy to work closely in fighter jet development

     RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 19 Kyodo - Japan, Britain and Italy agreed Tuesday to coordinate closely in developing a next-generation fighter jet in a joint project that Tokyo hopes will serve as the "basis" for even wider cooperation over the next few decades.

    Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed that they will complete the project as a key pillar of trilateral defense cooperation as they met on the fringes of the Group of 20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, the Japanese government said.

    The three countries agreed in December 2022 to start joint development of fighters. Aiming to deploy the jet by 2035, the Global Combat Air Program involves Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Britain's BAE Systems plc, and Italy's Leonardo SpA.

    Japan, Britain and Italy are seeking to deepen their cooperation as they share common values such as democracy and the rule of law.

    Ishiba told his British and Italian counterparts that the joint development program combining the technologies of each nation will set the stage for cooperation over the decades to come.

==Kyodo