Bloomberg today is reporting that “Japan, the UK and Italy will work together on an effort to develop a next-generation fighter jet to come into operation by 2035.”
Finally after all the buzz and rumours, the leaders of the three countries released a joint statement confirming the fact that the countries would merge their respective 6th generation fighter jet programmes (Team Tempest – UK, Italy & Japan’s F-X 6th generation jet). The defence industry giants of BAE Systems (UK), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) and Leonardo (Italy) would take their repespective leads and divide the work share amongst themselves. Saab of Sweden, who make the Gripen fighter jet, also looks likely to join this programme too at some point in the future after working closely with Team Tempest. The new name of the combined 6th generation fighter jet programme would the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
The UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said the new programme will include capabilities such as uncrewed aircraft, advanced sensors and cutting-edge weapons.
This is great news for the UK and shows us taking our place on the world stage after leaving Europe (much to the dissatisfaction of the Anti Brexit media). Our defence industry and knowledge is respected throughout the world (even after all the indefensible defence cuts of recent years) and this 6th generation fighter jet programme with global partners outside of the EU like Japan shows it. The tempest programme will create one of the world’s most capable jets, able to defend the UK well into the future.
The rival FCAS (Future Combat Air System) programme (consisting of France, Germany and Spain) in contrast to the GCAP is struggling with constant fighting between France and Germany over workshare and intellectual property (typical of all French joint weapons programmes). The main French contractor (Dassault) is fighting with the German industry partner (Airbus) over who takes the lead and how the work is split, with the French wanting to lead the programme. Also the Germans have upset the French with their decision to buy the F35 5th generation stealth fighter jet rather than a European jet, or investing more in the FCAS. This is great for the UK as between 20% to 30% of every F35 built is British technology as the UK is a Tier 1 partner on the US F35 programme. Again that is not something you will hear in the mainstream media as they want to portray the UK as isolated and alone, which is ridiculous. The FCAS programme, if it ever goes ahead, will take to the skies 5 years later than the GCAP (Tempest). However it is widely believed that there is not room for 2 European 6th generation jets, and that either the programmes will merge or one will die, and it looks like it is more likely that the FCAS will not make it after today’s big announcement.
Also the Germans have an excellent history working with the UK, having designed and built both the successful Tornado and mighty Eurofighter Typoon jets with both the UK and Italy. Their needs are much closer to British and Italian needs than the French, who need 6th generation jets to fly off an aircraft carrier, unlike the Germans who have none, or the British and Italians who both use F35B jump jets off their ones. This will mean compromises on the design will have to be made to meet 2 different requirements, and could damge the performance of the FCAS jet. The rumour mill also suggests that German industry and officials are angry and upset that they are being forced to work with the French for political reasons over Brexit, and that they would much rather workl with the UK and Italy. Will the programmes ever merge? Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has opened the EU countries’ eyes and forced them to realise that they need the UK for defence as it is the only European state both able and willing to fight Russia if they attacked the EU. The French and Germans would not assist, as they are more concerned with protecting their exports and economies than defending democracy and freedom. However the EU’s determination to punish the UK over Brexit, and scare other EU members to prevent them from leaving, means it is very unlikely.
But the GCAP shows that the UK is finally looking beyond a stagnating EU and making new connections with the world. The EU is a tiny proportion of the world, especially since the UK’s exit. We need to reach out to the quickest growing countries and areas in Asia and this is exactly what we are doing, finally.
We need to reverse all the UK defence cuts over recent years and start investing properly in the military and the defence of the country, which is the first duty of government.
