Japan’s fighter jet project with UK, Italy faces headwinds from London’s financial black hole

The new Labour government claims it has inherited a financial black hole, and media reports have suggested that expensive projects, such as the joint fighter jet development programme with Japan and Italy, could be for the axe or modified in the Strategic Defence Review being commissioned through the first half of next year.

Defence experts say Britain does need a new fighter jet. Some are cautiously optimistic that Britain will remain in the fighter jet project, known as the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), while others think it is far from certain.

Newly installed Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the project as “important” but stopped short of guaranteeing its future.

The GCAP was launched in 2022 and the sixth-generation fighter was promoted by the then Conservative government as evidence of its commitment to Indo-Pacific security as well as the Euro-Atlantic area.