UK, Italy, Japan Sign Treaty to Develop Stealth Fighter

The Global Combat Air Program aims to have the next-gen, supersonic fighter jet operational by 2035.

Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 04:34 PM ET

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Defense leaders from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan have signed a treaty to develop a stealth fighter with supersonic capability and a radar able to provide 10,000 times more data than current systems. [Courtesy: British Ministry of Defense]

Key Takeaways:

The UK, Italy, and Japan have signed an international treaty to collaboratively develop a supersonic stealth fighter under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP).
This advanced fighter will feature a radar capable of providing 10,000 times more data than current systems, with deliveries aimed for their respective air forces by 2035.
The three nations hold an equal 33 percent stake in GCAP, sharing in the design and delivery to boost their individual combat air industrial capabilities and global security.
GCAP's government headquarters will be in the UK, with its first CEO from Japan and the first industry leader from Italy, involving thousands of jobs and suppliers across the partner nations.

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The United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan have entered into an international treaty to develop a stealth fighter with supersonic capability and a radar able to provide 10,000 times more data than current systems, the governments announced Thursday.

The agreement was signed by U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, Japan defense minister Minoru Kihara, and Italy defense minister Guido Crosetto in Tokyo, coming one year after the formation of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP).