The defense ministers of Japan, Britain, and Italy agreed upon the creation of a coordinating entity that would supervise the design work for a future jointly created fighter jet, as officially stated by the Government of the United Kingdom.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and his British and Italian counterparts, Grant Shapps and Guido Crosetto, signed the treaty during their talks in Japan. The stealth fighter with supersonic capability is scheduled for deployment in 2035. The design work shall be undertaken by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Britain's BAE Systems Plc, and Italy's Leonardo S.p.A. and is expected to be finished by the year 2027.
Parliamentary approval will be sought by Japan's government to secure the funds needed for Japan's contribution to the coordinating entity, which will amount to 4 billion yen ($28 million), as Nikkei Asia reported.
