In a significant strategic move, the United Kingdom, Italy, andJapan have decided to partake in a joint future fighter jet program. 

The countries selected Reading, England, as the headquarters for this program, officials said.

Unveiled by UK Defense Secretary John Healey and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, this program, called the Global Combat Air Program, ramps up defense ties among the nations. 

In the new headquarters, the program will develop a stealth fighter jet that will rival the American F-35.

More than 3,500 engineers and programmers are scheduled to work on the project across the UK, with the program expected to generate jobs for hundreds of skilled workers in the future.

In Dec. 2024, BAE Systems in the UK, Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd., and Leonardo from Italy signed a Joint Venture Agreement to create a new company headquartered in the UK that will lead the program.

Japan and the UK have considerably ramped up their joint defense exercises.

They recently commenced the third year of the Exercise Vigilant Isles in Japan where more than 100 British troops from the 16 Air Assault Brigade are training with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Fores on Kyushu island.

This exercise aims to strengthen the “interoperability” of the two countries’ defense personnel with the UK being the only country to conduct bilateral military exercises on Japanese soil.

Healey and Nakatani also discussed the growing importance of Indo-Pacific security and maintaining bilateral relations in the wake of global instability.

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“With increasing instability across the world, it is more important than ever that we strengthen cooperation with our international partners like Japan,” Healey said.

This venture could soon expand to include Saudi Arabia, as suggested by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

“The deal we have with Britain and Japan… I think will now be extended to Saudi Arabia,” he said.