Excerpt:

>Rishi Sunak is set to announce a collaboration between the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a new fighter jet that uses artificial intelligence.

>The nations will develop a next generation fighter - due to enter service in the mid-2030s - that will eventually replace the Typhoon jet.

>It is hoped the new Tempest jet will carry the latest weapons.

>But building such a complex aircraft is extremely expensive - developing the F35 jet was the most expensive programme ever undertaken by the Pentagon - so Britain has been looking for partners.

>Italy was already on board, and the addition of Japan is a significant move - at a time when Britain is building closer ties with allies in the Indo-Pacific region worried about a more assertive China.

>Other countries could still join the programme. France, Germany and Spain are already working together on their own separate design - as is the United States.

Jonathan Beale, 9 December 2022.

Further reading:

>The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a new partnership and ambitious endeavour between the UK, Japan and Italy to deliver the next generation of combat air fighter jets.

>Due to take to the skies by 2035, the ambition is for this to be a next-generation jet enhanced by a network of capabilities such as uncrewed aircraft, advanced sensors, cutting-edge weapons and innovative data systems.

>The combat aircraft developed through GCAP is also expected to be compatible with other NATO partners’ fighter jets.

PM announces new international coalition to develop the next generation of combat aircraft, 9 December 2022, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-international-coalition-to-develop-the-next-generation-of-combat-aircraft