Britain, Japan and Italy have signed an international agreement to establish a program aimed at developing an advanced supersonic stealth fighter, the defense ministers of the three countries announced on Thursday, cited by Reuters and Agerpres.

Defense ministers of three countriesPhoto: David Mareuil/AFP/Profimedia Images

The deal comes a year after the three countries established their first major defense industry cooperation by combining separate British and Japanese next-generation fighter jets. Later, Italy and Japan also announced the conclusion of a separate “strategic partnership”.

The parliament of each of the 3 countries must ratify the agreement, which aims to prepare the fighters for flights by 2035. The joint development phase of the program will begin in 2025.

Both the joint government headquarters of the Global Air Combat Program (GCAP) and the joint industrial headquarters will be based in the UK. According to the report, the first executive director of the government organization will be from Japan, and the first head of the business organization will be from Italy.

“No country can do it alone with this level of experience combined with our skills and equipment, with our design and production line capabilities,” British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said.

Japan is strengthening cooperation with Europe in the context of the biggest security challenges since World War II

“As we face the most challenging security environment since World War II, maintaining air superiority remains a critical task we must achieve,” added Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, flanked by Shapps and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crocetto in Tokyo.

Kihara did not say who would lead the company, but said he would make sure “the best person for the job” is chosen.

The British government has explained that the supersonic stealth aircraft will have a radar capable of providing 10,000 times more data than current systems.

British BAE Systems, Italian Leonardo, European rocket manufacturer MBDA and engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce are participating in the project.

Reuters reports that Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japanese avionics maker Mitsubishi Electric Corp and engine makers IHI Corp and Avio Aero are also involved.