Japan, UK, Italy Close to Agreement on Fighter Jet Project
- Program could compete with next generation of US warplanes
- Accord is expected next week, with technical details later
A model of the proposed jet fighter aircraft Tempest.
Photographer: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
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Japan, the UK and Italy are close to announcing a political agreement on a new jet fighter, joining forces to fund a multi-billion dollar program capable of competing with the next generation of warplanes from the US and elsewhere.
The accord on the project, to be called the Global Combat Air Program, is expected next week, according to people familiar with the issue. Parties involved had said in July, when Japan’s likely involvement was announced, that the aim was to seal an agreement by year-end. The date could slip to later in the month, one of the people said.